Officers urging safety during Thanksgiving travel season

Every available Department of Public Safety trooper will be on patrol during the long Thanksgiving weekend, according to DPS Trooper Robbie Barrera.

“The No. 1 issue we see is speeding, followed by people driving without a seat belt,” Barrera told The Daily Tribune. “Right up there with them is driving while intoxicated. Plus, here in our area, you’ll have a lot of people trying to get to Austin to go to the University of Texas/Texas A&M game Thursday.”

Horseshoe Bay Police Chief Bill Lane said the heavy traffic will increase the potential for accidents, adding the risk won’t be limited to large state highways.

“Some of those drivers will be impatient or in a hurry and create even more danger due to excessive speed or other erratic driving behavior,” Lane said. “The holidays also bring out more potential for drinking and driving, and therein lies a very big problem not only for the motoring public, but for law enforcement as well.”

Barrera said DPS has a zero-tolerance policy for drunk drivers and motorists who aren’t wearing safety belts, meaning anyone stopped for those violations will be ticketed.

“We’ll be looking for all traffic violations, but our goal is voluntary compliance,” she said. “That’s why we’re working to be extremely visible on the road. However, if we have people who aren’t complying, they will receive a ticket.”

Lane said his department will join other local agencies in stepping up their patrols on area streets.

“Our desire is not to impose fines on any driver, but see that everyone has a safe holiday,” Lane said. “Regretfully, we often have to impose those sanctions on motorists in order to assure compliance for the good of all.”

Last year, the DPS’s extended efforts resulted in more than 10,000 citations during the Thanksgiving holiday, along with 400 arrests for DWI and 1,026 for seatbelt violations.

DPS Director Col. Stan Clark said the added citations serve a very basic purpose.

“We want you to get to your destination safety,” Clark said. “Be patient. There will be a lot of other families traveling, and traffic is likely to be congested. Leave yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going.”

Clark said DPS officers will be looking for several specific violations:

• Not using turn signals

• Driving in the passing lane

• Tailgating, flashing headlights or honking

8 Using high beams in traffic

Clark also urged motorists to avoid behaviors that lead to road rage, such as blocking lanes and reckless driving.

“Drive friendly,” he said. “Slow down, buckle up and drive sober.”

chris@thepicayune.com