Mississippi Highway Patrol prepares for Memorial Day Weekend

As Memorial Day Weekend approaches, thousands are expected to hit the roads across Mississippi.

Law enforcement agencies are gearing up for one of the busiest travel times of the year, with a focus on safety.

WXXV News 25’s Everett Ganier Jr. spoke with the Mississippi Highway Patrol about what to expect.

It’s the unofficial start to summer and troopers are expecting a surge in traffic across the Magnolia State.

Mississippi Highway Patrol is increasing patrols ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. MHP Trooper Landon Orozco said, “So, the plan is, just like we do most holidays, we’re going to try our hardest to have troopers at as many places as possible where we usually run into the issues, in those construction zones on I-10, some of the north and south highways. That way we can kind of deter a little bit of the issues that may arise throughout the holiday period.”

Officials say impaired driving, speeding, and distractions behind the wheel remain the top concerns during the holiday weekend.

With more families traveling, patience is just as important as preparation. “Like you mentioned, you got schools getting out for summer. You got graduations happening all week, and into the weekend. You got potential for weather issues like rain. So, a huge thing to make sure we pay attention to slowing down. Making sure we pay attention to being safe and essentially driving for the other person. We may think we are a good driver, so we think we don’t need to worry about our driving but we don’t know how everyone else can drive. So, I urge everybody that gets out this weekend, I urge them to make sure they use that extra little level of safety. Whether it means keeping extra space and not getting to where you’re going as fast, leaving a little bit earlier that way you can take the time, slow down, and enjoy the ride whether it’s sunny or raining.”

“We got a lot of construction going along the Coast whether its I10 or Highway 67, Highway 49. Anywhere across the coastal counties you can see construction going on just about any point in your travels. So, make sure you pay attention, make sure you slow down, be very cautious, be very observant when you’re going through those areas. Even if there is not anybody out there, there is still potential for crashes to happen just because you have condensed lanes and other obstacles you have to maneuver around.”

“If you plan on going out make sure if you decide you want to be the person that drinks, to make sure you find a safe ride. A twenty-dollar uber is a whole lot easier than spending a night in jail or a weekend in jail and the fines that may come with that as well.”

The message is simple: stay alert, slow down, and make it to your destination safely.