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Police to increase patrols for July 4th weekend

7 years 8 months 2 weeks ago Friday, July 01 2016 Jul 1, 2016 July 01, 2016 10:48 AM July 01, 2016 in News
Source: WBRZ

BATON ROUGE – State Troopers and law enforcement are reminding residents and visitors to be safe while traveling on the road for the fourth of July weekend.

In 2015, celebrations during the weekend turned tragic for six families after fatal crashes that took the lives of their loved ones.

Other drivers celebrated the holiday from behind bars for the holiday instead. This year, there will be an increased number of Troopers will be on patrol during the weekend celebrations.

Louisiana State Police and law enforcement across the state will be working together to remove impaired drivers from the road and will be checking to see if all passengers of cars are wearing seat belts.

An estimated 41 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more over the weekend. The increase volume of traffic in combination with an increase in alcohol lead to more crashes, according to State Troopers.

Troopers remind drivers to:

- Ensure everyone is wearing seat belts and in seating positions

- Never drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver

- Avoid distractions while driving

- Be patient while dealing with heavier than normal traffic

Louisiana State Police will be targeting driving behaviors such as impaired driving, speeding, unrestrained passengers, aggressive driving and distracted driving.

"From my time as a Trooper to my present role as Superintendent, one of the most difficult assignments I've had was informing a mother of her young child's death in a car crash,"  Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent, said. "The fatalities that occur on our highways are mostly preventable. It is the responsibility of all citizens to make smart choices both while in motor vehicles and while enjoying the holiday festivities."

Travel information and road closures due to crashes or construction can be found by:

- Dialing 511

- Visiting 511la.org

- Downloading the free "Way to Geaux" app

- Following Louisiana State Police on Facebook and Twitter

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