Crime & Safety

GSP Will Be On High Alert During Holiday Weekend

Georgia State Patrol troopers will be patrolling interstates and secondary roads over the Memorial Day weekend in an effort to keep motorists safe.

The Memorial Day weekend is always a busy one for traffic officials and Georgia State Patrol is not expecting it to be any different this year. An advanced advisory sent out this week warns motorists to plan carefully, use caution and buckle up in order to help make it a safe Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Colonel Bill Hitchens, Georgia Department of Public Safety commissioner, said the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend begins at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at midnight Monday. In addition to the normal weekend traffic, Hitchens said traffic is expected to be heavier than normal because of graduation ceremonies, festivals and vacation travel. With Gwinnett County schools finishing up Friday, there are several graduation ceremonies planned in the local area this weekend.

"We anticipate a busy weekend on Georgia roads," Hitchens said.

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During the 2010 Memorial Day weekend, the Georgia Department of Transportation's Crash Reporting Unit reported 2,143 traffic crashes across the state resulting in 945 injuries and 5 fatalities – the lowest ever recorded in the state for a Memorial Day weekend since 1969 when authorities began keeping records. The highest was in 2005 when 32 people died on Georgia roads over the Memorial Day weekend. According to officials, none of last year’s fatalities were on interstates - two were on state highways and three were on county roads or city streets, so people can expect to see troopers patrolling secondary roads as well as interstates this year.

Hitchens is encouraging everyone traveling to always use their safety belt to make sure children are properly restrained.

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"This is "All-American Buckle-Up Week" across the country and state highway patrols and state police agencies are concentrating on getting the message out that safety belt use saves lives," Hitchens said.

Motorists are urged to plan trips carefully and allow for frequent stops on long trips.

"Make sure you are alert behind the wheel at all times and immediately make a rest stop the moment you begin to feel drowsy," Hitchens said. "We want everyone to enjoy the holiday weekend and remember its purpose, but please take the necessary precautions to avoid serious injury or death while you travel. Always buckle-up, remember to properly restrain children, obey the posted speed limit and don't drive if you have consumed alcohol." 

The Memorial Day holiday weekend is also an Operation C.A.R.E., (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) holiday period and Operation Click It or Ticket continues across the nation. 


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