MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Troop D Headquarters - 3131 East Kearney Street - Springfield, MO 65803

News Release

For further information please contact: Sergeant Jason M. Pace
(417) 895-6868
D232017
November 17, 2017

EMPHASIS: Troop D Prepares For Thanksgiving Day Traffic

Captain Juan Villanueva, commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, announces Troop D officers will be participating in enforcement operations throughout the Thanksgiving Day weekend. The objective of these operations is to promote safety and reduce traffic crashes. Throughout the holiday weekend, troopers within Troop D and throughout the state will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort), which is a national traffic enforcement program aimed at making holiday weekends safer.
In addition to Operation C.A.R.E., Troop D will also participate in a special enforcement operation during the peak travel periods on Wednesday, November 22, and Sunday, November 26. During this operation, Troop D troopers will be assigned to 20-mile stretches of Interstate 44 to maximize visibility. Enforcement efforts on secondary roads within Troop D will be conducted during the same timeframe. Over the entire holiday weekend, troopers will be targeting all traffic violations and will be especially vigilant to excessive speed, careless and imprudent driving, and aggressive driving violations. Troopers will also be available to help motorists in need of assistance.
“The Thanksgiving weekend is an opportunity for people to visit family and friends, which oftentimes means more drivers on the road,” said Captain Villanueva. "Our goal is very simple: We want everyone to arrive at their destination safely. Please obey all traffic laws, pay attention to the job of driving, ensure that everyone in your vehicle is properly restrained, and if alcohol is part of your Thanksgiving plans, choose a designated driver.”
The only 100 percent survivable traffic crash is the one that never happens. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Every day as we travel on Missouri’s roadways, we trust that every driver on the road is going to obey the speed limit, pay attention, and drive sober. “Don’t Violate The Trust.”