MSHP focusing on speeding, drivers following too closely over the Thanksgiving Holiday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Wednesday and Sunday afternoon and evening are the busiest travel days over Thanksgiving weekend, according to a release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
MSHP trooper Luke Benke said extra troopers will be put patrolling the roads until Sunday night when the holiday counting period ends.
MSHP will count data -- including arrests and crashes -- for the holiday from 6 p.m. Wednesday-11:59 p.m. Sunday. According to the release and Benke, MSHP troopers will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E over the holiday, enforcing traffic laws and assisting people on the road.
"Every available trooper is out on the roads working on it," Benke said. "We stick to the primary roadways, interstates, U.S. highways and we try to focus our efforts on hazardous movements."
According to Benke, troopers typically see drivers who are speeding and following the vehicle in front of them too closely during busy travel periods, such as Thanksgiving. Those two actions can lead to crashes, especially on busy roads.
Parts of Mid-Missouri could receive snowfall on Saturday. Benke said it's much more important for drivers to make sure they're staying alert and following the rules of the road, especially ensuring a safe distance between vehicles because poor weather can lead to worse wrecks.
"You have to have that reactionary gap in front of you. If the vehicle in front of you brakes for any reason you have to be able to slow down and stop," Benke said.
Benke also said people who notice the weather is poor should slow down even more than they would in dry conditions.
Benk also said troopers will be on the lookout for drunk drivers.
Nine people were killed and 483 people were injured in 1,342 crashes over the Thanksgiving Holiday period in 2023, the release states.
Drivers are also encouraged to make sure their vehicles are in good condition, make sure everyone inside of their vehicle is wearing a seatbelt and obey all traffic laws.
As of 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, there were two crashes with injuries reported by the highway patrol in Missouri.
