The Maine Dept. of Public Safety announced additional state troopers will patrol Maine’s highways starting Fri., July 1, for the July 4th weekend.
In addition to troopers on patrol, the State Police plane will be augmenting the increased enforcement from the air.
The Chief of the State Police, Colonel Robert Williams, said the week around July 4th is one of the busiest times on Maine roads with vacationers on the move, so additional State Police patrols will be monitoring the increased traffic.
Williams advised motorists to be well rested, avoid drinking and driving, and expect some delays because of road construction projects and the increased traffic.
“July 4th is the one of the most heavily traveled weeks on Maine roads and the State Police goal is to make it a safe week. Troopers will be looking for impaired and aggressive drivers, and occupants not wearing their seat belts, with several special enforcement efforts scheduled utilizing federal funding from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety,” Williams said.
Williams also said troopers will remind motorists of the upcoming ban on texting while driving, which goes into effect Sept. 28.
“The texting ban will be one less distraction for motorists and a significant improvement for safety on Maine roads,” Wilson said.
This year, there has been a 23 percent drop in highway deaths in Maine; as of today, 45 people have died on Maine roads this year compared to 59 deaths for the same period in 2010, according to State Police data.
