The Memorial Day holiday traditionally means many Californians hit the road. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reminds you to buckle up, designate a driver, and eliminate distractions. Officer Todd Kettwig with the Gold Run CHP office says Memorial Day weekend is a Maximum Enforcement Period for the CHP.

CHP Officer Kettwig on Memorial CHP Patrols

Officers will be out on the road looking for motorists who are a danger to themselves and others. The Memorial Day holiday reporting period begins on Friday, May 25, at 6 p.m. and runs through Monday, May 28, at 11:59 p.m. Memorial Day weekend in 2011 saw a significant increase in the number of people killed in
collisions. According to CHP statistics, there were 24 deaths statewide, a 41 percent increase from the previous year, and 60 percent of those killed were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. There were 1,367 arrests for driving under the influence statewide in CHP jurisdiction during the holiday weekend.