Staff Writer

The Highway Patrol will have extra troopers on the roadways and will have multi-jurisdictional checkpoints in place during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Lance Cpl. Jeff Gaskin, Troop 4 spokesperson, said Union County already has experienced over a 100 percent increase in traffic fatalities over this same time period in 2007.

"As of Nov. 23, there have been five traffic fatalities in Union County, opposed to two at this time last year," he said.

To help prevent more fatalities during the busy holiday weekend, Gaskin said troopers in Union County will focus on U.S. 176, S.C. 215 and S.C. 9

"And any roads leading up to those roads," Gaskin said.

Troopers will team up with Union Public Safety Department officers and Union County Sheriff's Office deputies to form multijurisdictional checkpoints and the patrol also will have DUI saturation teams working Wednesday through Sunday.

"This is to ensure safe travel on our roadways throughout the holiday period," Gaskin said. "Because one fatality is too many."

Lower gas prices could increase congestion on the roadways as more people opt to travel this Thanksgiving weekend, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, which is advising motorists to make travel plans early.

“We believe the lower gas prices will mean more travel,” said SCDPS Director Mark Keel. “The past few holidays - when we normally see heavy travel - have definitely been lighter because of the impact of high gas prices. People are overdue on making those long trips.”

The official holiday period will begin Wednesday night at 6 p.m. and extend until midnight Sunday. In 2007, there were 10 fatal crashes and 11 fatalities. The highest number of fatalities in the past five years was in 2004, when there were 16.

Inattention, speed, aggressive driving and impaired driving continue to account for the majority of the serious collisions and fatalities during the holiday travel periods. Aggressive driving and inattention are often worse during the holidays because of the extended hours on the road.

In South Carolina nearly 450 people are killed every year in alcohol-related collisions (463 fatalities in 2007). One person is injured or killed in an alcohol-related crash every two hours in the state.

Law enforcement will focus heavily on proactive enforcement measures including public safety checkpoints, where motorists should be prepared to show their license, registration and insurance; special radar enforcement, including hand-held LIDAR, especially on major travel routes and interstates; and strict enforcement of restraint laws, particularly child restraint.

There is currently a 79 percent safety belt usage rate in South Carolina; however, more than 67 percent of vehicle occupants killed in a traffic crash were not buckled.

“Families often travel in large groups on Thanksgiving, which can lead to distraction for the driver,” said Lt. Col. Melvin Howard of the Highway Patrol. “We urge drivers to have plans to keep the children occupied and reduce distraction in the vehicles.”

Howard adds that keeping children securely in their safety restraints is critical on short and long trips.

“People often think if they are just going down the road or across the street, they don't need to restrain themselves or the children,” Howard said. “We urge parents to keep their children securely and properly buckled up regardless of the length of the trip. Never let children ride on the laps of other passengers.”

Thanksgiving Travel Safety Tips from the Highway Patrol:

Prepare in Advance of Travel: