The Georgia State Patrol predicts about 18 deaths on Georgia highways during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Col. Sid Miles, Georgia public safety commissioner and state patrol commander, said impaired drivers will be the number-one priority for law enforcement officers. The holiday period begins at 6 p.m. Friday Sept. 4 and continues through midnight Monday Sept. 7.

A record 33.1 million people are expected to take to the highways this weekend.

The southeast is expected to play host to the second largest group of auto, truck or RV travelers, about 7. 1 million, between Friday and Monday. The west will enjoy the largest group of highway travelers, about 7.6 million.

The figures represent about a five percent increase over last year, according to the AAA Auto Club South report. Also, travel by air, bus, rail or ship will be up about three percent to about 3.5 million.