As traffic surges on Georgia's highways in anticipation of Labor Day weekend, law enforcement has ramped up its vigilance to safeguard travelers. According to 13WMAZ, Georgia Department of Public Safety’s state troopers and commercial vehicle enforcement officers have been monitoring the roads from Friday evening through today for speeding, DUIs, distracted driving, and seatbelt violations. During last year’s Labor Day period, the state recorded more than 550 crashes and 20 fatalities, along with nearly 500 DUI arrests.
Moving to Florida, Crystal McKenzie and her family, who are stopping in Georgia, said she's trying to steer clear of peak travel times. "We think we might try to head back a day early so that we're not on the roads for Labor Day because we are anticipating the extra traffic and it's always a nightmare," McKenzie told 13WMAZ in a statement obtained by the publication. Traffic congestion is expected near Macon and Savannah on I-16, and on I-75 in both north and South Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety then reported a spike in DUI arrests over the holiday weekend. Troopers have arrested 254 individuals for driving under the influence, as stated by FOX 5 Atlanta. Getting caught distracted driving, 221 drivers were cited, and seatbelt violation citations numbered at 357. The roads witnessed a total of 108 crashes resulting in three deaths and 35 injuries, 15 of which involved impaired drivers, and five involved commercial vehicles.
On Georgia's lakes, the Labor Day weekend did not pass without incident either. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources recorded seven arrests related to boating under the influence (BUI), with four occurring on Lake Lanier alone. No boating-related injuries or fatalities have been reported. "The department reported 108 crashes, resulting in three deaths and 35 injuries," according to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta. Safety officials advised boaters and drivers to practice caution over the holiday weekend.
For those planning holiday travel, the American Red Cross recommends some best practices: enable emergency alerts on smartphones, communicate travel plans to loved ones, and keep vital documents accessible both in physical and digital form. Ensuring that everyone in your traveling party has memorized each other's phone numbers and emergency contacts is also advised for additional safety.
