BATON ROUGE – An increased law enforcement presence will be seen through the Labor Day weekend as Louisiana State Troopers will work closely with local law enforcement to remove drunk drivers from the roadways.

Last year, five Louisiana families lost loved ones that were killed in drunk driving crashes. With the increase in holidays plans and traffic, drivers are urged to plan ahead, designate a sober driver, always ensure all passengers are wearing their seat belts and exercise patience while driving.

There is nothing more difficult than informing a mother that her child has been killed in a preventable crash," Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent, said. "Please, have a plan in place that gets you home safely this Labor Day weekend," Edmonson said.

Drivers will see an increased law enforcement presence on our highways targeting dangerous driving behaviors such as drunk driving, speeding, unrestrained passengers, aggressive driving and distracted driving.

Drunk driving is one of the leading factors in fatal crashes in the state.

For traveling convenience, drivers can use the Louisiana Traveler Information System through several different methods including the dialing 511, www.511la.org, the Louisiana 511 app, LA DOTD Twitter accounts, and the "Way to Geaux" smartphone app.