(FRANKFORT, KY.) - The Kentucky State Police will be boosting its presence on the state’s roadways this weekend as part of Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) Lifesavers Weekend. This special traffic enforcement campaign, which begins at 12:01 am on Friday, December 17 and runs through 11:59 pm on Sunday, December 19, is part of a national program designed to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by speeding, impaired driving and failure to use seat belts and child safety seats.

“Troopers will be actively patrolling the highways and operating traffic safety checkpoints statewide during this time period,” notes Lt. Col Dean Hayes, director of the KSP Operations Division. “They will be aggressively enforcing traffic laws and using radar, video equipment and passive alcohol sensors to assist their efforts. They’ll also coordinate their activities with local police and sheriff’s offices for maximum effectiveness.”

Motorists should keep the following points in mind when travelling throughout the holiday period:

·Kentucky has a zero tolerance policy regarding driving while impaired by alcohol. Operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .08 will result in an immediate arrest even for first time offenders.

·Kentucky law makes the driver responsible for assuring that all occupants in their vehicle are properly restrained. A citation may be issued only if a motorist is stopped for reasons other than violation of the seat belt law.  However, no warnings will be issued to drivers found not wearing a safety belt as a secondary violation. They will receive a citation.

·According to Kentucky law, all children 40 inches in height or less, must be buckled into a child safety restraint seat that meets federal standards. Children over 40 inches tall must wear a seat belt. Violation of this law will result in a $50.00 fine with an additional $10.00 fine donated to the Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund.

·Motorists should be aware that the back seat is the safest place for children to sit, especially in vehicles equipped with passenger-side air bags. Infants and toddlers should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger-side air bag. Parents should always be sure that their child’s safety seat has been properly installed in the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

·Studies show that higher travel speeds are responsible for a significant increase in highway traffic deaths. Speeding reduces a driver's ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway. It extends the distance required to stop a vehicle and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation.

·Motorists should also remember that Kentucky law requires them to slow down and use caution when they see a law enforcement or emergency vehicle stopped alongside the road with its lights flashing. They must move over to the lane farthest away from the vehicle if they are on a four-lane road and can do so safely. Failure to do so can result in fines.

“In order to enjoy the holiday season, we urge motorists to act responsibly when operating a motor vehicle,” says Hayes.  “Slow down, buckle up and don’t drive while impaired. Following this advice will give drivers and their passengers a great advantage in surviving their travels whether it’s across town or across the state.”

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