Wednesday, December 20, 2000

GSP predicts 15 deaths this holiday

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The Georgia State Patrol is predicting that 15 people will die in automobile accidents over the Christmas holiday period.

Last year, during the same amount of time over Christmas holidays, 10 people died in traffic wrecks. The most ever recorded was 36 deaths in 1971 while the fewest deaths, five, were reported in 1982.

GSP Col. George Ellis urged motorists to exercise extreme caution since both holiday periods extend across weekends when more fatalities are traditionally recorded.

"Traditionally, holiday periods that include Friday and Saturday nights result in a higher number of traffic fatalities," he said. "The bottom line in almost all of the traffic deaths during a holiday period will be either speed, alcohol or failing to use safety equipment or a combination of the contributing factors."

Troopers will be looking for intoxicated drivers during the holidays through concentrated patrols and road checks.

"Troopers will also be checking for seat belt violations and making sure children are properly restrained," Ellis said.

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