Driver safety encouraged during Memorial Day holiday weekend

The state’s Department of Public Safety wants drivers to make sure this Memorial Day holiday weekend is remembered for all the right reasons. 

The state Highway Patrol will participate in two major safety projects during the holiday period. One is Operation Safe, which will mean more troopers on state roads monitoring traffic and enforcing state laws. The second is a Border to Border campaign that will involve highway patrols from surrounding states.

The Office of Highway Safety reported that last year during the Memorial Day holiday, there were 116 motor vehicle crashes resulting in two deaths and 30 injuries. So far this year, motor vehicle fatalities are up in South Dakota compared to the same time last year. Speed, alcohol and not wearing a seat belt continue to be leading factors in most of the state’s motor vehicle fatalities.