IN ANTICIPATION OF THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF VIRGINIA MOTORISTS WHO WILL BE HITTING THE HIGHWAY THIS COMING LABOR DAY WEEKEND – WHICH IS HISTORICALLY THE THIRD DEADLIEST DRUNK DRIVING HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR – CHECKPOINT STRIKFORCE HAS LAUNCED A FIVE-MONTH STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT DRUNK DRIVING. CCORDING TO CAMPAIGN SPOKESMAN KURT ERICKSON, RECENT FATALITY NUMBERS IN VIRGINIA HAVE BEEN ON THE UPSWING.LAST YEAR, VIRGINIA SAW A 16-PERCENT INCREASE IN ALCOHOL-RELATED FATALITIES. ERICKSON SAYS LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS SEVERAL TOOLS IN THEIR ARSENAL TO MAKE THE ROADS SAFER, INCLUDING SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS AND/OR SATURATION PATROLS EVERY WEEK ACROSS THE STATE. STUDIES FROM THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY SHOW THAT SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS CAN REDUCE ALCOHOL-RELATED CRASHES BY AS MUCH AS 20-PER CENT.