Motorists reminded to drive safe this Fourth of July holiday

The Fourth of July holiday is a day to celebrate with family and friends, but while out traveling to various events and gatherings, motorists are reminded to drive safe and to buckle up.

To help with this reminder, Georgia State Patrol troopers will be out on the roadways from 6 p.m. Friday, June 30, to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 4.

Col. Mark W. McDonough, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, says during this 102-hour long holiday travel period, state troopers will patrol in an effort to keep the number of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities as low as possible.

Last year, the holiday travel period was 78 hours long. Troopers investigated 404 traffic crashes that resulted in 230 injuries and six fatalities, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety. In addition to the traffic crash investigations, 285 people were arrested for driving under the influence, while 9,082 citations and 11,967 warnings were issued.

GSP Post 15 in Perry, which covers Houston, Macon, Peach and Pulaski counties, investigated 20 crashes involving 12 injuries and no fatalities during last year’s Fourth of July holiday period, according to Post Commander SFC Robbie Roberson. He said they issued 217 citations, 281 warnings and arrested four people for DUI.

State troopers remind drivers to exercise caution in holiday travels, no matter how short the trip may be.

“Drivers should obey the posted speed limit, avoid distractions inside vehicles and be courteous to other drivers,” says McDonough. “Careful planning is the key to a safe holiday weekend, and remember to put safety first.”

This holiday period, GSP is participating in the Operation Zero Tolerance campaign, a nationwide mobilization against impaired driving, states the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Troopers will work alongside sheriff’s deputies and police officers to apprehend impaired drivers.

McDonough advises that crashes caused by impaired drivers can be prevented if drivers will take the initiative to not drive under the influence. He warns that troopers will not hesitate to arrest an impaired driver and tow their vehicle.

From July 1-4, troopers will also participate in Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort). This is a nationwide traffic safety initiative among state highway patrols and state police agencies where troopers and officers across the United States and Canada work together during holiday periods to reduce the number of traffic deaths through high visibility patrols and educational outreach.

The holiday traffic count will be updated throughout the holiday period on the Georgia Department of Public Safety Twitter page at https://twitter.com/ga_dps.

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