MHP: Travel this Labor Day with safety as your top priority – Daily Leader

As the Mississippi Highway Patrol prepares for the final summer holidays with the Labor Day 2024 travel season, it wants motorist safety to be its top priority.

The MHP enforcement period begins at 6 a.m. on Friday, August 30, and ends at midnight on Monday, September 2.

“As Labor Day marks the ‘unofficial end of summer,’ the Mississippi Highway Patrol and police across the state will be working diligently to ensure the safety of you, your family and your friends throughout Mississippi!” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “Remember to be responsible and drive safely.”

Throughout the holiday season, troopers will conduct conspicuous patrols and safety checks to ensure safe travel on the state’s roads. The main goals are to prevent speeding, prevent impaired or distracted driving, minimize fatal crashes and encourage seat belt use.

“As we look ahead to the upcoming holiday weekend, safety continues to be our top priority,” said MHP Assistant Chief Lt. Col. James Ivory. “As you gather with your family and friends and college football begins, our roads are expected to be busy. Let’s all be conscious of driving safely, wearing your seatbelt and being cautious this holiday weekend!”

During the travel period surrounding Labor Day 2023, MHP investigated 147 crashes resulting in four fatalities, issued 698 tickets for occupant restraint violations, and made 141 drunk driving arrests on state and federal highways. Brookhaven-based Troop M, which serves Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, Amite, Pike, Adams, Jefferson, Wilkinson and Walthall counties, made one drunk driving arrest and one drug arrest, issued 49 tickets for seat belt and child restraint violations, rendered aid to five motorists, and investigated four crashes.