NEWS RELEASE



For further information please contact:

Capt. Christian T. Ricks

(573) 526-6115



June 23, 2006

EMPHASIS: Drive Safely During July Fourth Holiday



The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind Missouri’s travelers of the importance of safety during the upcoming July Fourth holiday. If you travel to visit friends and family during this summer holiday, remember to buckle up, pay attention, and obey the speed limit. The fireworks and food will be there when you arrive. Please help make this a safe holiday.



Last year, seven persons were killed and 622 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,217 traffic crashes. One person was killed or injured every 7.4 minutes. Troopers arrested 166 people for driving while intoxicated in 2005. Over the past five years, 66 people have been killed and 3,089 have been injured in traffic crashes on Missouri’s roadways over July Fourth holidays. The 2006 counting period for the July Fourth holiday will be from 6:00 p.m., Friday, June 30 to 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, July 4. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) over the holiday. All available officers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and alcohol laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists. Motorists who need assistance or who witness criminal activity while traveling on Missouri’s roadways can contact the nearest Highway Patrol troop headquarters by calling the Patrol Emergency Report Line at 1 (800) 525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone.



“The Patrol hopes everyone enjoys celebrating the freedoms we have in this great country,” said Colonel Roger D. Stottlemyre, superintendent of the Highway Patrol. “If your celebration includes travel, please pay attention. One second of inattention is all it takes for a traffic crash to occur. You could cause harm to yourself or someone else. If your celebration includes alcohol, don’t drive. Choose a designated driver or take a taxi.”





-30-