Police and transportation officials in Mo. and Ill. plan to boost enforcement over the Memorial Day weekend.
The Missouri Highway Patrolwill again participate in Operation C.A.R.E (Combined Accident Reduction Effort.)Troopers will be on alert for all traffic offenses, especially aggressive and impaired drivers.
Every available officer will be on the road enforcing traffic laws, according to Captain Tim Hull with the Patrol. Troopers will be assigned to 20-mile intervals along interstates and highways through 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Hull says efforts like these have contributed to a 13 percent reduction in traffic deaths this year, compared to this time last year.
"We'd still like to see that number go down to zero," said Hull. "There's still several holiday periods and vacations between now and the end of the year. So, we're encouraging everybody to practice safe driving habits and help continue that trend."
The Illinois State Policeplans to add hundreds more safety belt enforcement zones and other patrols over the weekend as part of the"Click it or Ticket" program.
Ill. Dept. of Transportationspokesman Josh Kauffman, says the ultimate goal is to save lives.
"In the years 2009 and 2010, we understand that this approach, as well as, many other traffic safety programs has helped reduce traffic fatalities to under 1,000," said Kauffman. "This hasn't been done since the 1920s."
According to IDOT, the "Click it or Ticket" campaign has helped push safety belt usage to nearly 93 percent across Ill. and has resulted in more than 4,300 lives saved since 2000.