State Police Increase Patrols over Holidays

PENDLETON, IN - The Indiana State Police would like to remind all motorists to do their part in making our highways safe during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.  In 2007 there were nine fatalities over the Christmas holiday period.  There were seven fatalities over the New Year period last year. 

The Christmas counting period this year is from 6 p.m. December 24 to 6 a.m. December 29. The New Years period is from 6 p.m. December 31 to 6 a.m. January 5, 2009. 

To help ensure the safety of all motorists during this holiday period, the Indiana State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort).  Operation C.A.R.E. is a federally funded program that will allow extra troopers to patrol area roadways over the upcoming holidays.  Troopers will specifically look for drivers who speed, follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes, drive aggressively, and fail to buckle up or to properly restrain their children. In addition, CVED (Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division) units will be on patrol focusing on Commercial Motor Vehicle driver violations. 

.Your Indiana State Police would like to offer the following safety tips: 

1.  Make sure you are well rested. A fatigued driver is a dangerous driver.

2.  Avoid tailgating.  Increase your distance between vehicles in bad weather.

3.  Buckle-up. 

4.  Let family know your route of travel and have your cell phone charged. 

Lt. Clint Bundy, Commander of the Pendleton Post, stated, “We want everyone to arrive alive and have a joyous and happy holiday.”  “Our Troopers will do everything possible to make the roads safe, but we asked for the public’s help in following some of the above safety rules.”