Heavy travel is anticipated for the upcoming 102-hour Thanksgiving holiday travel period and the Georgia State Patrol is asking drivers to use caution as they travel. 

The holiday period begins Wednesday and ends at Sunday at midnight.

Col. Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said Georgia State Troopers and officers with the DPS Motor Carrier Compliance Division will be watching for impaired drivers, occupant protection violations and speed violations on the state’s roads.

Last year, 13 people died in traffic crashes on Georgia roads during the holiday period. 

The Georgia Department of Transportation reported 2,348 traffic crashes across the state that resulted in 888 injuries.

Hitchens said officers are concentrating efforts on seat belt and child restraint violations as part of “Operation Click It or Ticket.” 

The nationwide mobilization began last week and continues through the holiday period with law enforcement officers across the country working to save lives through enforcement.

Troopers will be watching for impaired drivers as well during holiday patrols. He noted the Thanksgiving holiday period is a time when impaired drivers fail to heed the warnings to choose a designated driver.

The Georgia State Patrol reminds motorists to plan their travels carefully and allow plenty of time to reach destinations.

“Anticipate travel delays,” Hitchens said, “and be prepared should rain make driving conditions hazardous.”

Motorists are reminded of Georgia’s “Steer It and Clear It” law that requires drivers involved in crashes with no apparent serious personal injury or death to move the vehicles out of the traffic lanes if the vehicles are drivable.

During the past five years, 95 people have been killed in traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period.  There have been 15,490 traffic crashes reported that have resulted in 6,225 injuries.