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

General Headquarters - P.O. Box 568 - Jefferson City, Missouri 65102


NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Captain J. T. "Tim" Hull
573-526-6115
Q12093
December 1, 2009

EMPHASIS: Missouri Thanksgiving Holiday Traffic Deaths Lowest In 25 Years

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers stepped up enforcement activities over the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday weekend by participating in two enforcement programs. Troopers participated in the national Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) enforcement program throughout the holiday weekend. As a part of the Operation C.A.R.E. program, all available officers were assigned to work over the holiday period to provide maximum manpower during this busy travel time. As an added enforcement program, troopers also participated in a 10-mile trooper program on selected major traveled highways, to include interstate and some heavily traveled U.S. highways, from 12 p.m. to midnight on November 25, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 29, 2009. During this enforcement program, troopers were assigned at 10-mile increments on these major highways across the state enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists.

Statewide enforcement contacts for the two separate 10-mile trooper program days are as follows:

Total Arrests 1,957
Total Warnings 2,423

A breakdown of some of the enforcement contacts are as follows:

Driving While Intoxicated 11
Exceeding Speed Limit 1,150
Careless & Imprudent Driving 8
Failure To Yield 6
Seat Belt Violations 236
Child Restraint Violations 17
Following Too Close 29
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 23
Hazardous Moving Violations 38
Non-moving 181
No Driver's Lic./Revoked/Suspended 72
Uninsured Motorists 88
Minor In Possession Of Alcohol 2
Misdemeanor Drug Arrests 13
Misdemeanor Warrant Arrests 67
Felony Arrests 13
(This includes Felony DWI, Drugs, and Warrants)

It was originally reported that two persons had been killed in Missouri traffic crashes over the four day 2009 Thanksgiving holiday counting period. However, due to a late death of a traffic crash victim, that number has increased to three traffic deaths for the counting period. Missouri has not experienced this few traffic deaths over the Thanksgiving holiday counting period since 1984, when three deaths were reported that year as well.

“The Missouri State Highway Patrol takes holiday weekends very seriously,” stated Missouri State Highway Patrol Superintendent, Colonel James F. Keathley. “Taking the job of driving seriously, and remembering to buckle up will help reduce the number of traffic crashes and fatalities all year long.”

NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release is sent out.
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