Troopers are going to be out in full force to keep holiday travelers safe. Programs like 20-Mile Trooper and CARE seek to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Lieutenent Jon Hotz says the Fourth of July is one of the three busiest holidays for summertime travelers and every available officer will be out to assist motorists and enforce the law.
He says the 20 mile trooper program will saturate Interstates 29, 44, 55 and 70 as well as highways 60 and 61. Troopers are also participating in the nationwide CARE program — Combined Accident Reduction Effort.
Motorists needing assistance can call *55 from their cellular phones to reach Highway Patrol Dispatch in their area.
Hotz last last year 13 people were killed on Missouri roads July four weekend — 472 were injured. He says that’s an injury or death every 9.6 minutes.
Hotz says even though fatalities are trending down over the past few years, which is a positive sign, last year’s holiday was still tragic for many.
The holiday counting period starts tonight, July 1, at 6 p.m. and ends Monday, July 4, at midnight.
Hotz says inattention and speed continue to be the biggest contributors to traffic crashes. During holidays, he says people can be even more preoccupied with their passengers, phones and more. The patrol urges drivers to pay attention to what they’re doing, as well as to what other drivers are doing.
