The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds motorists
that many Missourians will travel over the upcoming Thanksgiving
weekend. This will change traffic patterns and requires everyone to be a
courteous, safe driver. If you will be traveling this holiday, please
make sure your car is in good condition before beginning your trip. It
is also important that you are well rested before you start driving.
Remember to buckle up -- seat belts save lives!The Patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. As part of this operation, all available officers will be assigned to Missouri’s roadways to enforce traffic laws, especially those related to drunk driving, speeding, and seat belt/child restraint use. Troopers will also be assisting motorists as needed.
Over the past several years, the Patrol has used special traffic enforcement projects to further their efforts to decrease traffic crashes and fatalities. This Thanksgiving weekend will include such an enforcement project, a 20-Mile Trooper operation. Troopers will be assigned at 20-mile intervals along Interstates 29, 44, 55, and 70, as well as U.S. Highways 60 and 61.
The counting period for the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 27, until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 1, 2013. During the 2012 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, six persons were killed and another 434 were injured in 1,208 traffic crashes. That means traffic crashes killed or injured one person every 13.9 minutes in Missouri over last year's Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
“It's important that everyone arrive at their Thanksgiving destination safely," said Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "Please obey all traffic laws, wear your seat belt, and pay attention to the job of driving--that text or cell phone call can wait. If alcohol is part of your plan, don’t drink and drive. On behalf of the employees of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, I wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.”
The Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number is 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone). Motorists should use this emergency assistance number to report traffic crashes, crimes being committed, or other emergencies on Missouri’s highways. When you dial this number anywhere in the state, it rings directly into the closest Patrol headquarters.
Of course, no matter how safely you drive, you can’t control other drivers. Thus, the Patrol encourages motorists to protect themselves from all types of hazardous drivers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Click It 4 Life!
