MSHP: More troopers will be on highways this Memorial Day weekend

COLUMBIA. Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri State Highway Patrol has increased manpower on the roads over this Memorial Day Weekend.

Troopers will have extra enforcement on interstate 70, Highways 63, 50, and 64, and route 5.

Highway Patrol will have its Marine Division and Water officers out in full force at the lake to make sure everyone is operating their boats safely.

Over the 2019 Memorial Day holiday troopers made 118 driving while intoxicated arrests. Eight people died and 433 people were hurt in 1,009 traffic crashes. Last year 10 people died and 444 people were injured in 1,081 traffic crashes.

Troopers will be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers since it has always been an issue in the past.

Last year, troopers made 118 DWI arrests on Memorial Day weekend.

Corporal Kyle Green with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said troopers want to make sure travel is done safely.

"Find that sober driver, slow down when you see us on the highway things like that. Everybody has a destination they are trying to get to so that's what we are going to be out there doing trying to prevent some of the crashes that occur," Green said.

Green said troopers will be on the lookout for reckless drivers.

"Speeding, an intent of driving some people that are going out of their lanes, following too closely, and addressing people that are not wearing their seatbelts," Green said.

Nick Chabarria AAA spokesman said about 90 percent of all travelers this weekend in Missouri will be traveling by car.

"Overall this weekend we are expecting 37.1 million Americans to travel more than 50 miles from their home this upcoming weekend and 700,360 right here in Missouri," Chabarria said.

Highway patrol expects increase traffic from around 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight as people make their way for the lake.