Be careful out there.
More Kansas Highway Patrol troopers, deputies and police officers will be on the streets and highways during the upcoming busy period.
During the 2006 Thanksgiving reporting period (6 p.m. Wednesday through midnight Sunday), there were 720 crashes resulting in 223 injuries and nine deaths. Of those total crashes, 46 were alcohol related, resulting in 28 injuries and one death, according to KHP.
This Thanksgiving season, the Kansas Department of Transportation is funding overtime for troopers and other participating officers who normally would be off duty. Seat belt and child passenger safety laws, as well as removing impaired drivers from roads, will be the focus of the law enforcement officers.
Holiday travelers can also expect workers in construction zones. Violations in construction zones can cost up to $180.
For safe holiday travel, KHP and KDOT remind drivers to allow extra travel time, make sure vehicles are in good mechanical condition and watch for threatening weather.
