Heavy Memorial Day Weekend Traffic Predicted

Georgia State Patrol troopers will be patrolling secondary roads along with the interstates this Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to an announcement by Col. Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. “Last year, there were no interstate fatalities recorded during the holiday period, but two of the deaths were on state highways and three were on county roads or city streets,” Hitchens said.

This year’s eight-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend begins Friday, May 27, at 6 p.m. and ends at midnight Monday, May 30. Col. Hitchens predicted traffic will be heavy throughout the weekend as graduation ceremonies, festivals and vacation travel will add volume to normal weekend traffic. “We anticipate a busy weekend on Georgia roads,” he said. 

In the announcement, Col. Hitchens advised drivers to plan their trips carefully, take frequent rest stops, use caution and buckle up for a safe Memorial Day holiday weekend.  

“Make sure you are alert behind the wheel at all times and immediately make a rest stop the moment you begin to feel drowsy,” Col. Hitchens said. “We want everyone to enjoy the holiday weekend and remember its purpose, but please take the necessary precautions to avoid serious injury or death while you travel. Always buckle-up, remember to properly restrain children, obey the posted speed limit, and don’t drive if you have consumed alcohol.” Col. Hitchens also asked motorists to be considerate of other drivers and be patient while behind the wheel.

The Georgia Department of Transportation’s Crash Reporting Unit reported 2,143 traffic crashes across the state that resulted in 945 injuries and five fatalities during the 2010 Memorial Day weekend. “The number of traffic deaths during the holiday weekend last year was the lowest ever recorded for Memorial Day weekend,” Col. Hitchens said. One of the traffic deaths was a pedestrian, and one was a motorcyclist.

Georgia State Patrol troopers will also be conducting road checks and watching for violations of the state’s seat belt law. “This is All-American Buckle-Up Week across the country, and state highway patrols and state police agencies are concentrating on getting the message out that safety belt use saves lives,” Col. Hitchens said. Operation Click It or Ticket is also underway across the nation.

In addition, the Memorial Day weekend is an Operation C.A.R.E. holiday period. Operation C.A.R.E., or Combined Accident Reduction Effort, is a campaign to reduce traffic deaths through high visibility enforcement and education sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police across the United States and Canada. The program is now in its 34th year. 

The highest number of traffic deaths on Georgia roads was recorded during the Memorial Day holiday weekend in 2005 when 32 people were killed in holiday crashes. The lowest number was recorded last year when five people were killed. The Crash Reporting Unit began keeping statistics on Memorial Day travel in 1969.