OFF THE WIRE
http://www.cedartownstd.com/view/full_story/7733906/article-Local-and-state-police-step-up-road-patrols-for-summer?instance=home_latest_1st_leftLocal and state police step up road patrols for summer by Melody Dareing 3 days ago | 804 views | 0 | 5 | | Drivers may be feeling like someone is watching them this summer.
And they are.
Memorial Day may be the traditional beginning point of summer fun, but it also marks the start of expanded police patrols assigned to keep everyone safe on the roads.
While there weren’t any wrecks in Polk County last Friday, several campaigns to encourage safe driving ramped up last weekend.
“This is All-American Buckle-Up Week across the country,” said Col. Bill Hitchens, who is the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
“State highway patrols and state police agencies are concentrating on getting the message out that seat belt use saves lives.”
In Georgia, that message is being spread by the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which also went into full force last weekend. Georgia State Patrol (GSP) officials said officers will be checking for seatbelt and child restraint violations throughout the summer.
The Memorial Day weekend is also a holiday period targeted by the Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (CARE) program sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. That program is for state law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and Canada to reduce traffic deaths through high visible enforcement and education.
Motorcyclists aren’t being left out. The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) said Operation Full Throttle is accelerating this year to both educate bikers and catch those taking unnecessary risks.
“We have seen motorcycle speeds well into the 100-plus range on our interstates during each joint enforcement campaign,” said Maj. Mark McDonough, commanding officer of the Georgia State Patrol.
Officers have good reason for concern over road safety. Traffic estimates from the Crash Reporting Unit at the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) and the GSP indicate there will be 1,972 crashes, 696 injuries and 15 deaths on Georgia Roads over the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend.
That weekend begins at midnight Friday and ends midnight Monday.
Crashes involving motorcycles claimed 117 lives last year. As tragic as that may be, McDonough said it is a 30 percent decrease from 2008 where 167 died in motorcycle accidents.
Read more: The Fish Wrap - Local and state police step up road patrols for summer
