Drunken driving prevention gets extra publicity around the winter holidays, particularly on New Year's Eve. But the risk of being involved in a fatal crash with an impaired driver is actually higher in the summer beer-drinking season than during the champagne-infused soirees of December.

Winter weather causes more crashes, but July and August are the months for the worst crashes, says Montana Highway Patrol Col. Mike Tooley. Those are the highest traffic fatality months, and July 4 tends to be the highest fatality holiday, worse even than Labor Day weekend.

"We know July 4, especially when it falls on a weekend, will be busy," Tooley said this week from Highway Patrol headquarters in Helena.

He said MHP will have extra troopers on patrol duty statewide thanks to an overtime grant obtained by the Montana Department of Transportation. In the Billings patrol district, officers will be working extra hours from June 29 through July 5, Capt. Keith Edgell says.

Alcohol is a major factor in fatal crashes during the July 4 holiday, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2007, 34 percent of all drivers involved in traffic-related crashes during the three-day Fourth of July holiday period had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.08. Among the 200 traffic fatalities in that holiday period, 44 percent involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.

Speed is also a more common risk factor in summer crashes than in winter. The total number of motor vehicle crashes nationwide peaks in August. July ranks second in fatalities and fatalities related to speed.

At the start of this week, Montana's traffic fatality toll was comparable to last year's, with a total of 90 traffic deaths. Preliminary MHP data lists speed as a factor in 38 deaths and alcohol use as a factor in 32 deaths. The majority of vehicle occupants who died weren't wearing seat belts.

Enjoy the Independence Day holiday and please do your part to prevent holiday tragedy. Don't speed, stay alert and sober, and make sure everybody buckles up.