GSP, Law Enforcement Ready for Busy Travel Weekend

Law enforcement is also ready for a busy Fourth of July holiday travel weekend.

The 78-hour holiday period began at 6 p.m. on Thursday and ends at midnight on Sunday, July 5.
During this period, the Georgia State Patrol will be conducting concentrated patrols and road checks throughout the state.

Georgia Department of Public Safety Commissioner Colonel Mark McDonough says that troopers will be out in full force, aggressively targeting motorists who put lives in danger by driving impaired, speeding, and not buckling up.

Last year, the Georgia State Patrol investigated 414 traffic crashes that resulted in 250 injuries during the July Fourth holiday period.

Troopers issued 7,463 citations, 12,670 warnings, and made 291 arrests for driving under the influence.

State troopers also investigated five fatal traffic crashes, some of which were attributed to impaired driving.
Colonel McDonough says that anyone caught driving impaired will be arrested.

He says that anyone who will be consuming alcohol should plan a safe way home or designate a sober driver before the celebration begins.

Also, he says that if someone knows someone who is about to drive while impaired, help him or her make other arrangements to get home safely.

Finally, he says that as people gather this weekend with family and friends to celebrate our country’s independence, they make safety a priority during your celebrations.

Safety tips include making sure a vehicle is in proper running condition, planning trips carefully, wearing seat belts, properly installing child safety seats, obeying the speed limit, not leaving children and pets in hot cars, avoiding distracted driving, avoiding long periods of driving without a break, and being courteous to other drivers.