Ga. troopers participating in National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend

ATLANTA – Georgia state troopers will be stepping up traffic enforcement this weekend as part of a nationwide effort.

As part of “National Holiday Lifesaver Weekend,” troopers will engage in so-called “high visibility patrols” and road checks aimed at reducing traffic deaths.

“We are joining this nationwide effort because it focuses on driving behaviors that kill across the nation and this is not just a local problem,” Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said in a news release. “This time of year is especially dangerous on our roads and that danger is only compounded by alcohol and drug impaired drivers.”

In addition, state troopers will be patrolling with their lights on this Friday as part of “National Lights On for Life Day.” Troopers are hoping to remind motorists of the dangers of driving under the influence.

Also this month, troopers are cracking down on drunken drivers statewide as part of a month-long campaign.

As part of “Drunk and Drugged Driver Awareness Month,” troopers will be conducting road checks statewide aimed at stopping drunken drivers before they cause wrecks. Nationwide, 873 people died in wrecks in December 2009 involving drunken drivers, and roughly three out of every 10 crashes in Georgia involved an “impaired driver,” according to state authorities.