GSP Gearing Up for Holiday Weekend

The Georgia State Patrol has one primary goal this 4th of July weekend -- to keep the accident count as low as possible.

Last year, over 1,800 accidents occurred over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Those accidents resulted in 834 injuries and 11 fatalities.

Colonel Bill Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said troopers will be watching for drivers under the influence, speeders and motorists not using seat belts.

“Our Troopers and MCCD Officers will be concentrating on the most common violations identified as contributing factors in fatal traffic crashes," Hitchens said in a released statement.

Operation Zero Tolerance is also continuing across Georgia this weekend. The focus of the program is to remove impaired drivers from the roadway. Safety checks and concentrated patrols are planned.

Hitchens further noted . Hitchens said drivers should make sure child passengers are properly restrained.

The 78-hour holiday holiday travel period begins Friday at 6 p.m. and ends at midnight on Monday, July 4.