By Staff
Staff report
The Alabama Department of Public Safety estimates that 12 people may die as a result of traffic crashes in Alabama during the 78-hour Labor Day holiday travel period. The period began at 6 p.m. on Friday and will end at midnight Monday, according to a press release from the ADPS.
Last year 12 traffic deaths occurred during the 78-hour period. Ten deaths on rural roads and two in urban areas were reported. At least six of the deaths were alcohol related and six of the crash victims were not using safety restraints according to ADPS reports.
Alabama state troopers will be conduting line patrols, saturation details, checkpoints and aerial speed enforcement as part of their statewide Labor Day weekend traffic safety plan, according to Co. W.M. Coppage, ADPS director.
"Troopers will be working to protect the safety of holiday travelers," Coopage said. "Motorists are urged to join in this safety effort by driving defensively, obeying speed limits and all other traffic laws and buckling up on every trip."
All available troopers will be on duty thanks to selective traffic enforcement grants that will fund the additional patrol effort. In addition to targeting speed limit violators, troopers will be watchful for drunken and other dangerous drivers.
Troopers also will focus enforcement in construction zones. Selected troopers dressed as construction workers will utilize new laser speed detection devises to catch speed violators as part of "Operation Hardhat," a new construction zone enforcement program.