Wednesday, August 29, 2001
|
Wednesday, August 29, 2001 |
|
GSP predicts 18 traffic fatalities for Labor Day The Georgia State Patrol is beefing up its efforts again for the pending Labor Day weekend holiday. Concentrated patrols and road checks are planned throughout the holiday in an effort to minimize the number of traffic deaths on Georgia roads. Col. George Ellis said every available trooper would be on patrol during the day both Friday and Monday, the heaviest travel periods of the holiday weekend. The GSP is predicting 18 traffic-related fatalities over the weekend in Georgia along with 702 injuries from an estimated 2,591 crashes. Last year, 17 people died on state roads during the Labor Day holiday; eight of those fatalities involved alcohol and/or drug-impaired drivers. "The Labor Day holiday period is the end of the summer travel season and many people try to squeeze in one more outing, and that translates to more people and cars on the roads during peak travel times," Col. Ellis said. "You will also see more vehicle and pedestrian traffic near schools and colleges that increase the hazards to drivers." The holiday also signals the next wave of "Operation Click It or Ticket," a seat belt enforcement program conducted in eight southeastern states including Georgia. The week-long enforcement period begins Saturday, Sept. 1, and continues through Saturday, Sept. 8.
|
||