Highway patrol increasing enforcement for Memorial Day weekend
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers will increase their presence on the road this Memorial Day weekend, starting Friday.
The patrol will start its Memorial Day holiday counting period at 6 p.m. Friday and end it at 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Cpl. Kyle Green with the Missouri State Highway Patrol says this weekend you should expect a lot of traffic on the highways and on the water," we will have additional troopers out to make sure everyone gets to their destination safely, we are encouraging everyone to put on their seat belts, slow down, increase your following distance and make sure that who ever is driving hasn't been drinking."
Troopers will be part of Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort). MSHP will focus on hazardous moving violations, speed violations and impaired drivers. Troopers want to remind those traveling by car to always wear a seat belt and those who are on or near the water to always wear a life jacket.
Green says. "we will have additional troopers out to make sure everyone gets to their location safely, people aren't driving or operating their vessels while impaired. making sure individuals have their life jackets on are operating their vessels in a safe manner."
AAA expects about 39.2 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more from their home this weekend, an increase of 8.3% over last year. Afternoons and early evenings will be the busiest times on American highways, AAA predicts.
During the 2021 Memorial Day holiday weekend, 10 people died and 442 were injured in 1,017 traffic crashes, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The agency reported 12 boating crashes that included one death and three injuries during that same time period.
Over last year's Memorial Day weekend one person drowned and troopers made 57 driving while intoxicated and eight boating while intoxicated arrests.
"Last year we had quite a few people lose their lives, this year our goal is to keep that number at zero." Green said.
Motorists and boaters who are in need of help or want to report a crime should use the Highway Patrol's Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cell phone.
