MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102
NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
Q6132014 (573) 526-6115

June 17, 2014
EMPHASIS: Have A Safe July Fourth Weekend!

The 2014 July Fourth holiday brings to mind sunshine, barbecues, friends, and fireworks—all of which can be quite enjoyable. Many people will travel somewhere to enjoy the holiday weekend and appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Whether your plans will take place on land or on the water, Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds Missouri’s travelers of the importance of safety during the upcoming July Fourth holiday.

In 2013, 19 people were killed and 618 injured in Missouri over the holiday in 1,349 traffic crashes. One person was killed or injured every 9.6 minutes. Troopers worked 358 crashes, in which 13 people died and 157 were injured during the 2013 July Fourth holiday. Troopers arrested 199 people for driving while intoxicated during last year's 102-hour holiday counting period.

The 2014 counting period for the July Fourth holiday will be from 6 p.m., Thursday, July 3, to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 6. This year's counting period will span 78 hours.

The July Fourth weekend is also one of the quarterly DWI enforcement mobilization dates. Many of the troops have checkpoints and saturations scheduled for this period. Troopers have a zero tolerance for drinking and driving, whether on the road or on the water. Drinking and driving don't mix.

The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) over the July Fourth holiday weekend. 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.

Troopers throughout the state will participate in a 20-Mile Trooper operation on Thursday, July 3, and Sunday, July 6, 2014. This operation will include Interstates 35, 44, 55, and 70, and U.S. Highways 60 and 63. Troopers will be highly visible while targeting all traffic violations, and be especially vigilant of aggressive driving violations.

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. Motorists may call 1-888-275-6636 to check for road construction or possible flooding along their travel route.

The Highway Patrol also reminds the public that the Fourth of July holiday is one of the busiest boating holidays of the year. In 2013, there were 19 boating crashes, which included 13 injuries and one fatality. Three people drowned during last year's July Fourth holiday. Two people drowned at Smithville Lake in Clay County; one person drowned at New Towne Lake in St. Charles County.

Troopers will also be working on the state’s waters to ensure safety. Missouri’s boaters are asked to do their part by remaining alert for other boats and swimmers, and being courteous on the water. With more boats on the water, it is even more important to pay attention when operating your vessel.

Remember:
· Distractions and alcohol consumption slow reaction time.
· Appoint a passenger to help monitor the other boats around you.
· Make evasive maneuvers early and deliberately.

The many firework displays after dark attract many more boaters at night.

At night, remember to:
· Check your vessel’s navigation lights before heading out, and be sure to have spare bulbs on board.
· Avoid overloading your boat with too many passengers. This can cause the boat to become swamped and affect the handling of the boat.
· Observe Missouri’s nighttime speed limit of 30 miles per hour on the water.
· Slow down and take your time. Nighttime crashes tend to involve more serious injuries and damage, due to the lack of visibility.

Finally, it is illegal to discharge fireworks from a vessel, so leave them in a safe place on shore.

"I encourage every motorist and every watercraft operator to make safety a priority every time they are behind the wheel or at the helm. Insist that everyone in your vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Or, when you're boating, ensure that everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket," said Colonel Replogle. "Please be courteous whether operating a vehicle or a vessel. If your celebration includes alcohol, designate someone else to act as your sober chauffeur."

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