As Connecticut residents prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday the Connecticut State Police has also implemented plans to enhance public safety, enforcement and visibility on all of the highways and roads in Connecticut. Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) is an intricate part of the highway safety plan.

The Connecticut State Police will supplement its normal routine patrol personnel with additional troopers over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Troopers will patrol all roads and highways across Connecticut and will focus on drunk drivers while targeting aggressive and unsafe drivers.

Thanksgiving Eve and Day are, without a doubt, the busiest traffic days of the year. Motorists need to remember: Don’t follow too close, slow down, stay off your cell phone and if you drink, then don’t drive.

Troopers will set up sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols to target DUI problem areas across the state throughout the entire weekend. State troopers are committed to reducing crashes through preventive enforcement initiatives such as safety spot checks at sobriety checkpoints.

Troopers will also be looking for violators who cause accidents on Connecticut roads and highways. Every effort to reduce accidents is being taken but Connecticut residents are urged to be a part of the public safety solution. Residents should remind all young people, especially college students returning home this semester, of the rules regarding alcohol consumption and drinking and driving.

Uniformed troopers will use non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issue tickets to reckless, distracted drivers. A reminder to all drivers: anyone who is consuming alcohol should never get behind the wheel. If you see a suspected drunk driver, call 911 as this is a true emergency.

“Your state troopers will work very hard to keep the state’s roads and highways safe,” said Colonel Danny R. Stebbins, commander of the Connecticut State Police. “Help us reduce accidents by driving with extra caution this Thanksgiving holiday. As we do our part through enforcement, please do your part by driving safely. At this busy time of year, we urge all parents to take the time and talk to their young adults about the dangers of underage drinking.”

2012 Thanksgiving Weekend Stats

Last year, Connecticut State Police reported the following violations during the Thanksgiving weekend:

Speeding Arrests: 1,611

Seatbelt Arrests:  85

Other Hazardous Moving Violation Arrests: 3,041 (including unsafe lane change, following too close, cell phone usage, failure to signal, etc.)

DUI Arrests:  62

Accidents Investigated: 410; accidents with injury: 59; fatal accidents: 3.

Total Calls For State Police Service: 10,469