August 27, 2003

With the final summer holiday around the corner, Michigan law enforcement agencies continue to emphasize safe driving through strict enforcement of safety belt and drunk driving laws, announced the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).

Increased holiday travel heightens concerns for increases in traffic fatalities. Motorists can expect to see a strong State Police presence on the roads as part of the annual C.A.R.E. campaign – Combined Accident Reduction Effort.

"If motorists haven’t already gotten the message, we’re urging everyone to buckle up and drive sober," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP division director. "We’ve seen some phenomenal declines in fatalities over Memorial Day and the Fourth of July weekends this year that we believe are directly related to intense enforcement programs."

While figures are still provisional, Michigan has recorded six traffic fatalities over Memorial Day weekend and 14 over Fourth of July. Both holidays coincided with intense national efforts to increase safety belt use over Memorial Day and reduce drunk driving over the Fourth of July.

In addition to heightened attention to traffic enforcement this weekend, eight counties will use federal traffic safety grant funds to dedicate additional officers to drunk driving patrols in Bay, Jackson, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Ottawa, St. Clair and Saginaw counties. The efforts will involve 34 law enforcement agencies, including local Michigan State Police posts. Enforcement is planned for:

• Bay County - Aug. 30-31
• Livingston County  - Aug. 29-30
• Monroe County - Aug. 29-30
• Macomb County - Aug. 28-31
• Jackson County - Aug. 29-31, Sept. 1
• St. Clair County - Aug. 29
• Saginaw County - Aug. 29
• Ottawa County - Aug. 30

In both Monroe and Ottawa counties, the BATmobiles will also be part of the stepped up patrols. BATmobiles are specially equipped vans with breath testing equipment. The vans allow officers to dedicate more time to traffic patrols by parking in a proximity close to enforcement activity.

Read more press releases from the Michigan State Police.