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Published on Wednesday, November 24, 2004
in the St. Petersburg Times
Law enforcement agencies will beef-up enforcement this Thanksgiving holiday weekend to combat aggressive and drunk driving during the high-volume travel holiday.
More than 37 million Americans will take to the roads this weekend - a three percent increase over last year, according to the American Automobile Association. Ten million will travel in the southeast.
Florida reflects the national trend: increased number of drivers on the roads despite high gasoline prices. In Florida, more than 2 million drivers will hit the road this weekend, most traveling 50 miles or more, according to AAA. Currently, the Florida average for a gallon of gas is $2.01, and $1.94 in the Tampa bay area.
The Florida Highway Patrol and St. Petersburg police will be on the lookout for impaired and aggressive drivers, a problem during holiday weekends. Last year in Florida, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 48 people were killed in traffic accidents. Of those, 21 were not wearing seat belts and 14 were alcohol related.
By Wednesday evening, holiday traffic already was delayed after a three-tractor trailer truck accident on I-75 in Sarasota County backed-up northbound traffic for more than 15 miles. Cars were detoured off the highway.
Highway Patrol officers said there were no fatalities and were not sure what caused the accident.
Larry Coggins, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol said the agency will deploy all officers, even office personnel, to the roads.
"Every holiday has rise in traffic, a rise in crashes, a rise in DUIs," said Larry Coggins, FHP spokesman. "Anytime anyone celebrates, unfortunately alcohol and driving is mixed."
The Florida Highway Patrol will monitor drivers by both air and land. Aircraft will monitor traffic on I-75, I-4, I-275, Polk Parkway, the Sun Coast Parkway and the Bay area bridges. Pilots will look for aggressive drivers, clock speed from the plane and guide ground patrol to offending cars. In the Tampa Bay area, there will be about 45 extra Highway Patrol officers on the road, driving motorcycles, Camaros and unmarked cars. Statewide, an additional 350 officers will be on patrol.
A Highway Patrol reserve unit, will saturate the area assisting with disabled vehicles.
Friday and Saturday, the St. Petersburg Police Department will have an enhanced number of officers patroling for impaired drivers throughout the city.
Tampa police also will be on patrol throughout the weekend