With a record number of travelers hitting the road this July Fourth holiday weekend, Georgia’s top public safety official urges caution.
“Pack your patience and avoid potential road rage incidents by being patient and courteous to other drivers,” says state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Col. Christopher Wright.
State troopers, motor carrier officers, and local law enforcement will be on high-visibility patrols throughout the long holiday weekend.
The official holiday travel period this year is 102 hours long. It begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 30, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4.
The Georgia State Patrol is participating in the Operation Zero Tolerance campaign, a nationwide mobilization against impaired driving, as well as the 100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) campaign. Troopers will be working alongside sheriff’s deputies and police officers to apprehend impaired drivers and crack down on aggressive speeders and distracted drivers.
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21 fatalities in 2022
Last year, Georgia state troopers and motor carrier officers issued more than 9,000 citations, over 8,400 warnings, and made 370 DUI arrests. Troopers also investigated nearly 400 traffic crashes.
Statewide, 21 people died on Georgia’s roads over the 78-hour-long 2022 July Fourth holiday weekend.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Georgia Hands-Free Law. Since the law’s inception, troopers and officers have issued more than 84,000 Hands-Free citations.
“Holiday celebrations should be safe and fun,” says Wright. “To stay safe this weekend, motorists should practice safe driving habits and follow posted speed limits, use appropriate safety restraints, pay attention to road conditions, choose a designated driver or rideshare if you plan to drink, and put the phone down while driving.”
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