Highway Patrol to catch traffic violations during lifesaver weekend

Lifesaver Weekend will focus on seatbelt use, speeding and intoxicated drivers.

By Amanda Wysocki

Published Dec. 11, 2008

The Missouri Highway Patrol will be out in full force this holiday season, especially the weekend before Christmas.

From Dec. 19 to 21, the Combined Accident Reduction Effort will sponsor its annual National Holiday Lifesaver weekend, according to a highway patrol news release. Highway patrol and state police will work together in a national effort to reduce traffic accidents, according to the International Chiefs of Police Web site.

"We try to raise everyone's public awareness about safe driving," Missouri Highway Patrol Lt. John Hotz said.

As part of the program, police try to encourage drivers to wear their seatbelts and plan a safe ride home before they begin drinking. They also monitor aggressive driving, excessive speed and driving while intoxicated.

"Once judgment starts to get impaired, that's when we see accidents," Hotz said.

CARE has been in existence for roughly 30 years and Lifesaver Weekend has been going on since 1991. It is always held the weekend before Christmas in order to remind people to be safe when driving to and from their holiday destinations.

"We know that any time someone is killed in a traffic accident, it is devastating," Hotz said. "It is even more devastating when it is on a holiday weekend."

Hotz said the department wants to raise awareness about highway safety before the holiday season arrives.

Police have been asked to maximize their visibility in order to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes, the news release stated.

The goal of the lifesaver weekend is not to issue more tickets for traffic violations, but to raise awareness about the importance of driving carefully.

During inclement weather, police remind drivers to allow plenty of distance between vehicles and to report any impaired or dangerous drivers.

"We encourage everyone to have a safe holiday weekend," Hotz said. "Enjoy the weekend, but get home safe and live to see another day."