Alabama State Troopers today will kick off their own holiday tradition: increased patrols on the state's roadways to help prevent crashes, injuries and fatalities.
Travel forecasts call for more people on the roadways this Thanksgiving holiday -- as much as a 4 percent increase.
"We expect traffic to be heavier than usual during this year's extended holiday period, and we will aggressively enforce traffic laws," said Col. Hugh B. McCall, director of Public Safety, in a news release.
Troopers will target such dangerous behavior as driving under the influence, speeding, distracted driving and following too closely.
"Not only can these driving behaviors cause crashes, but they can contribute to more severe crashes," McCall said.
Over last year's long Thanksgiving weekend, troopers investigated 412 crashes that left six dead and 185 injured.
Another six people died across the state during the same period last year in crashes that were not handled by troopers, for a total of 12. Of those, alcohol was a factor in seven of the deaths, and 10 of the 12 fatalities were not wearing seatbelts.
"Our goal is to make a positive difference on our state's highways," McCall said. "It's about saving lives and preventing crashes."
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