A greater number of Mississippians are expected to hit the road this holiday weekend than in recent years. Travel experts say the Fourth of July weekend is among the deadliest holidays every year.
More Mississippians are expected to be on the roadways this holiday weekend than in the past eight years.
Don Redman is with the travel-firm Triple-A. He says lower gas prices are giving more people the chance to vacation.
"Anywhere there's a beach or a lake, that's where people are heading for the holidays," Redman says, "and there's no doubt that after four years of averaging about $3.50 a gallon, seeing gasoline almost a dollar a gallon cheaper for the entirety of this year has really helped the family budget."
Last year in Mississippi, Highway Patrol recorded seven fatalities as the result of car crashes. That is one of the reasons law enforcement across the state will begin stepping up patrols starting tonight.
Lieutenant Johnny Poulos is with Mississippi Highway Patrol. He says . . .
Nearly 54,000 students with disabilities attend public schools in Mississippi, but just 23 percent of them graduated in 2012."We'll have check point established to look for impaired drivers; get them off the roadways," Poulos says, "and also to make sure that vehicles are being driven by licensed drivers."
Law enforcement officials will also use increased patrols to be look for motorists texting or using social media while driving. A law banning both activities went into effect yesterday.
