Hollister
– The highways will be packed this weekend, especially Sunday
night when travelers return from their holiday trips. And the
California Highway Patrol will have up to 90 percent of its
officers on the roads this weekend, looking for aggressive drivers
and those under the influence, said Officer Bra
d Voyles, spokesperson for the Hollister/Gilroy CHP station.
Hollister– The highways will be packed this weekend, especially Sunday night when travelers return from their holiday trips. And the California Highway Patrol will have up to 90 percent of its officers on the roads this weekend, looking for aggressive drivers and those under the influence, said Officer Brad Voyles, spokesperson for the Hollister/Gilroy CHP station.
“If you are driving this weekend, it’s going to take some time,” he said. “So everybody should just relax and be patient.”
Millions of Californians will take to the roads this Thanksgiving, including 4.4 million who will travel over 50 miles, according to Cynthia Harris, spokesperson for AAA.
The most congested times on the roadways are Wednesday and Sunday night, between 3pm and 7pm, Voyles said. Usually more accidents are reported, but only because there are more cars on the road, he said. There is no indication of increased accidents related driving under the influence, he said.
No DUI checkpoints will be put up, but officers will be on a lookout for suspicious behavior, which could be a sign of drunk driving, he said.
Meanwhile, AAA is urging motorists to be especially cautious and allot more time to get where they are going. Drivers should keep an eye on weather reports, make sure their vehicles are in good condition and keep at least half a tank of gas in the car at all times, said AAA’s Harris. If holiday travel includes going to the mountains, drivers should be aware of all road conditions and if they get snowed in, stay with their vehicle.
Drivers are also advised to stay clear of aggressive drivers, who are the top reasons for car accidents.
The high numbers of expected travelers by auto is the most in the past three years and is expected to rise above pre-September 11 levels, according to the AAA.
There have been no fatalities in the South County jurisdiction over the past four years during the Thanksgiving weekend. Last year, 28 accidents were reported by CHP in the maximum enforcement period, which usually starts on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and goes through Sunday.
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566 ext. 335 or ki*****@fr***********.com
