Sunday, December 22, 2024–5:50 p.m.
-News Release-
Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance (MCCD) Officers encourage motorists to exercise safe driving habits during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel periods. To reduce the number of crashes and fatalities on Georgia roadways, State troopers and MCCD officers will be on high-visibility patrols on interstates and state roads.
The Christmas travel period starts Tuesday, December 24, at 6 p.m., and ends Thursday, December 26, at 11:59 p.m. The New Year’s holiday travel period gets underway Monday, December 30, at 6:00 p.m., and ends at 11:59 p.m., on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Both travel periods are 54 hours long.
“It is still the primary focus and commitment of State Troopers and Officers to focus on motorists who break state traffic laws and exercise bad driving habits that could potentially cause serious injuries or fatal crashes. We encourage all motorists to make safety their top priority when traveling on Georgia’s roadways,” said Colonel Billy Hitchens, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Last year, the 2023 Christmas holiday travel period resulted in 16 fatalities statewide. GSP investigated 589 crashes that resulted in nearly 335 injuries and 11 fatalities. During the 2023-24 New Year’s holiday travel period there were nine statewide fatalities. GSP investigated 317 crashes that resulted in approximately 177 injuries and three fatalities.
If you plan to include alcohol consumption in your holiday celebrations, make sure to plan for a sober designated driver by contacting a taxi, rideshare, friend, or family member to help you get home safely. Make these decisions before you get into the holiday spirit.
“This is a festive time of the year! We want everyone to drive sober, stay focused, obey the laws, and enjoy this holiday season with family and friends. Always have a plan to have a sober driver to help make our roads safer for everyone. If you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested,” added Colonel Hitchens.