ATLANTA — As the Christmas and New Year’s holidays rapidly approach, Georgia State Patrol (GSP) troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance (MCCD) officers across the state are preparing for the back-to-back holiday weekends.
They will conduct high visibility patrols on the heaviest travel days to remind motorists to drive safely.
This year’s Christmas holiday travel period begins Friday, December 22, at 6 p.m. and ends Tuesday, December 26, at 11:59 p.m. The New Year’s holiday travel period gets underway on Friday, December 29, at 6:00 p.m. and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 2, 2024. Both are 78 hours long.
“The Georgia Department of Public Safety would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. We want to encourage all motorists to make safety their top priority when traveling on Georgia’s roadways,” says Col. Billy Hitchens, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Before hitting the road, Hitchens advises drivers to conduct a “pre-trip inspection” of their vehicles. He also urges motorists to obey the speed limit, wear their seatbelts, and ensure children are properly restrained.
“Do not drive impaired or distracted and please be patient as you travel,” he says.
AAA estimates over 115 million people will journey 50 miles or more away from home from December 23 to January 1, a 1.8% increase compared to 2022.
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