Texas troopers urge Thanksgiving holiday safe travel

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas troopers will be out in force over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend in an extended effort to keep all travellers safe.

The Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday reminded travellers that everyone in a vehicle must wear a seat belt. Troopers will also be on the lookout for drunken drivers.

DPS troopers, during the 2017 Thanksgiving holiday period, issued more than 73,000 traffic citations and warnings for a variety of violations — including 324 DWI arrests.

Officers on patrol also issued 8,449 speeding and 1,005 seat belt/child safety seat citations. Troopers made 235 felony arrests during the same time period.

The travel group AAA Texas projects 4.1 million Texans will journey 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving. That’s nearly 5 per cent more than last year.