Watch Out For Police Thanksgiving Weekend

New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will be out in full force from Wednesday through Sunday. Police will be on the lookout for impaired, distracted and speeding drivers.

State Police plans to increase their regular patrols statewide focusing on speed enforcement, impaired driving, underage drinking, and distracted driving. Sobriety checkpoints will be in place looking to catch drunk and underage drinkers. Police are also on the lookout for motorists talking or texting on their cellphones.

State Police will use unmarked vehicles, which blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

Roadways see the highest traffic volumes of the year during Thanksgiving weekend. The holiday is also a time when alcohol consumption is more widespread. During Thanksgiving weekend last year, 172 drivers were arrested for DWI. Troopers issued 4,237 speeding tickets and handed-out 565 tickets for distracted driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 301 people were killed in traffic accidents during the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Meanwhile, in New York, 11 deaths occurred from car accidents during the holiday weekend in 2014.

New York State Police, Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend these simple tips to prevent drunk driving:

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver
• If you’re impaired, find other ways of transportation;
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement
• Take keys away from an impaired driver and help them find another ride