Troopers on high alert for Labor Day Weekend

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri State Highway Patrol Troopers are out on high alert as the organization expects more traffic on highways and waterways for the Labor Day weekend.

"I think over the next several days there's gonna be a significant increase in traffic on all the major highways and interstates throughout the state and throughout the Troop F area," said Kyle Green, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "I would expect I-70, U.S. 54, U.S. 63 and U.S. 50 to be pretty busy, so if you have to be at a certain place at a certain time, we ask that you leave with plenty of time to get there safely."

During the Labor Day counting period last year, the MSHP investigated 274 vehicle crashes, resulting in 10 deaths and 124 injuries. A total of 145 DWI arrests were made.

"We realize a lot of people are traveling great distances but at the same time we want everybody to get there safely, so that's why we're out in full force this weekend," Green said.

To support Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort) this Labor Day holiday reporting period, Troop F says it will be targeting distracted and aggressive driving on the peak travel days of Sept. 3 and Sept. 6.

"We have all available troopers out on those major roadways trying to get people to slow down, looking for hazardous moving violations and just being visible out there," Green said. "Obviously if you're trying to speed, you're only going to save a couple of minutes and it's not worth the risk to your life and everybody else out here - not to mention you could get stopped and ticketed."

Green says the same goes for people out on the lakes and rivers.

"Just like on the roadways, the waterways will be busy as well," Green said. "So for instance, we're looking for people that are operating boats under the influence of alcohol or drugs, making sure that people are wearing life jackets and making sure that people aren't operating their vessel in a careless and imprudent manner."

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