STATE PATROL ISSUES EARLY WARNING OF JULY FOURTH TRAVEL

Baxter; St. Cloud – State Patrol officials are warning motorists to play it cool over the Fourth of July weekend. According to Regional Public Information Officer, Sgt. Curt Mowers of the Minnesota State Patrol, “The weekend of the Fourth can be one of the deadliest times of the year for Minnesota motorists.” Sgt. Mowers says, “Just from 2003 through 2008 alone on Fourth of July weekends in Minnesota, at least 32 people were killed and over 1,700 persons were injured. Those statistics show that we desperately need to improve what is happening on our roadways.”

Many law enforcement agencies including the Minnesota State Patrol will be out working special enforcement projects in an effort to keep the fatal and serious injury crash counts as low as possible.

Sgt. Mowers offers the following advice and information for motorists to be safe while traveling during the Fourth of July weekend: “No matter what type of vehicle you are operating, (or even if you are a pedestrian or riding a bicycle) you need to concentrate on what you are doing and obey all the laws. If you are in a motor vehicle, make sure you and everyone else is buckled up correctly. Speeding, failing to yield at intersections, failing to stop at red lights and stop signs as well as following too close, are just some of the big driving mistakes that people make.

Other big mistakes made by motorists include impaired driving, failing to signal, failing to recognize hazards or failing to take the appropriate action when a hazard is observed. Passing on the right and failing to move over for emergency vehicles and road maintenance vehicles are also common mistakes. Everyone needs to remember that law violations are the primary reason crashes occur, and most of them can be prevented, so plan ahead not to crash. We all need to take personal responsibility for our own actions as users of the roadways. Law enforcement is going to be out patrolling and doing our part, and we are asking you to do your part as well.”