The traditional start of the summer travel season is here with the start of Memorial Day weekend and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers are ready to do all they can to keep the roads safe.

The Patrol’s Captain Tim Hull says there were 15 deaths and 474 injuries in 1,094 crashes on Missouri roads during last year’s Memorial Day weekend counting period. The period runs from 6 pm Friday until just before midnight Monday night.

Hull expects added traffic on the roads, which is expected on most holiday weekends, but says the high price of gasoline might lead to fewer drivers being out on the road this weekend.

Download/Listen: Highway Patrol Captain Tim Hull (:30 MP3)