| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6552 | 2014-07-03 | Statewide | Troopers Urge Safe Celebrations During Fourth of July Weekend |
HEADQUARTERS NEWS RELEASE July 3, 2014 Troopers Urge Safe Celebrations During Fourth of July Weekend Baton Rouge – This weekend across the state, citizens of Louisiana will be celebrating America’s independence. Louisiana State Troopers urge citizens to have a safe travel plan in place to make this holiday weekend relaxing, memorable, and most importantly safe for all. This is a time when family and friends gather with food, fireworks, and patriotic festivities. However, the fact remains that Independence Day is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drinking and driving. To ensure a safe and enjoyable time for all, an increased number of Troopers will be on patrol during this celebration. Louisiana State Police and law enforcement from every community will be working together to keep impaired drivers off of the roadways and make sure that occupants of all ages are properly restrained. Traditionally there is an increase in traffic volume during the summer months which tends to lead to more crashes. Fourth of July travel adds even more traffic volume on our roadways, and Troopers remind motorists to: · Always buckle up (every position, both cars and trucks), · Never drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver, · Avoid all distractions while driving, · Always remain courteous and patient. Statistics show that remembering these tips before you travel will greatly increase your chances of arriving at your destination safely. LSP will be targeting driving behaviors such as impaired driving, speeding, unrestrained occupants, aggressive driving, and distracted driving. Troopers will be ticketing drivers who choose not to follow these rules. “As Troopers, our mission is to provide a safe environment for both citizens and visitors in every part of our state. Troopers will partner with local agencies to not only remove impaired drivers from our roadways, but also focus on any dangerous behavior that will disrupt celebratory events,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. “The deaths that occur on our highways are largely preventable. It must be the responsibility of every motorist and occupant to do their part, including having a plan that makes safe travel a priority." Every year across our nation, impaired drivers kill or injure thousands of people. Impaired driving is a deadly crime and is still far too prevalent in Louisiana, especially during times of celebration. Throughout the weekend, Troopers will be working alongside our law enforcement partners in DWI checkpoints and saturation patrols across the state. While troopers will remain vigilant throughout Louisiana we urge every citizen and visitor to report any hazardous situation or impaired driver to the nearest Troop by dialing *577 (*LSP) from a cellular phone, or 911 to your local law enforcement agency. To receive free real time updates on roadway closures, crash locations, and pertinent safety information for their region of the state please like the Louisiana State Police Facebook Page(www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice) and enroll in Nixle Alerts by visiting www.nixle.com and completing the required information to select Louisiana State Police as your agency. Contact Information: | |||
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