ATLANTA—Georgia State Troopers are preparing for a busy July Fourth holiday travel period. The holiday period is 78 hours long, beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 3 and ending at midnight on Sunday, July 6. During this period, troopers will be conducting concentrated patrols and roadchecks throughout the state. “Troopers will be watching for impaired drivers, seat belt and child restraint violations, and speeders,” said Colonel Mark W. McDonough, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
Last year, the holiday period was 102 hours long. The Georgia State Patrol investigated 1,150 traffic crashes that resulted in 564 injuries, and five fatalities. Additionally, troopers issued 9,849 citations, 18,477 warnings, and made 359 DUI arrests.
State troopers remind drivers to exercise caution in holiday travels, no matter how short the trip may be. “Obey the posted speed limit, check that everyone is wearing a seat belt, and avoid distractions inside your vehicle,” Colonel McDonough said. “Careful planning is the key to a safe holiday weekend. Keep safety a priority,” he added.
“Obey the posted speed limit, check that everyone is wearing a seat belt, and avoid distractions inside your vehicle”
Colonel McDonough says that troopers will be watching for impaired drivers during their holiday patrols and is reminding motorists that the Georgia State Patrol is participating in Operation Zero Tolerance, a nationwide crackdown on impaired drivers by law enforcement. “State troopers will be teaming up with local police officers and sheriffs’ deputies across the state for roadchecks during the holiday weekend,” the colonel added.
The Georgia State Patrol will also be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., or 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 education.
The highest number of July Fourth holiday fatalities was in 1972 when 34 people were killed. The lowest was two deaths in 1962, 1984, and 2012.
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