The Labor Day holiday weekend marks the end of a busy summer vacation travel season and heavy traffic is expected statewide this year. Speed is the leading cause of traffic deaths on the state’s highways. The State Highway Patrol will be out in force cracking down on speeders and aggressive drivers throughout the holiday weekend.

Last year, there were 1,140 crashes, 582 injuries and 13 fatalities investigated by the Highway Patrol statewide during the holiday period.

“I have instructed our troopers to aggressively enforce the speed laws,” said Col. Randy Glover Commander of the State Highway Patrol. “Don’t try to cut a few minutes o ff your travel time by speeding or driving aggressively. It’s just not worth it.”

The aggressive driver has been identified as those drivers who flagrantly violate the motor vehicle laws, including but not limited to: excessive speeding, following too closely, erratic lane changes, safe movement violations and other forms of reckless endangerment. Aggressive drivers account for the majority of the traffic collisions that occur on the state roadways. The Highway Patrol will also join other law en f orcement agencies at “Click-It or Ticket” seatbelt checkpoints across the state throughout the week, and troopers will be participating in the nationwide Combined Accident Reduction E f f ort. Operation C.A.R.E. is a coordinated e f f ort o f Highway Patrol and state police agencies. These high visibility patrols are designed to prevent crashes and ensure voluntary compliance with the motor vehicle laws.

The Labor Day holiday weekend o fficially begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept 4 and ends at midnight, Monday, Sept 7.

Citizens can report highway problems to the Patrol by dialing *HP (*47) on their cellular phones. The toll‑free call goes directly to the nearest Highway Patrol communication center.