MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has announced its intentions to increase Alabama State Trooper presence across Alabama’s roadways ahead of the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays. State Trooper presence and higher enforcement rates have been in effect and will continue to be so until midnight on Jan. 1, 2017.
ALEA set forth its plan to increase patrol presence after fourteen traffic deaths, including one child, in Alabama just over the five-day Thanksgiving travel period. Just last year, there were twenty-six total traffic deaths over the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holiday travel period. Without the current trend being reversed, the figure of twenty-six traffic deaths would likely be exceeded.
Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Stan Stabler and the ALEA encourage all Alabamians to avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, obey traffic laws, ensure all passengers are wearing a seat belt and that children are in adequate child-restraint systems, avoid texting and cell phone use, and steer clear of following cars too closely.
Grant funds are being used to fund additional patrol shifts and public safety efforts. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) are providing the grants to ALEA.
SylacaugaNews.com encourages all readers to take the necessary travel safety precautions ahead of the upcoming holiday season.
Jack Wilbanks for SylacaugaNews.com | © 2016, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.