Georgia State Patrol Urges Safe Driving for Independence Day Holiday

The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) and Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) urge everyone to celebrate the Independence Day holiday responsibly. The holiday travel period is 102 hours long, beginning Wednesday, July 3, at 6 p.m., and ending Sunday, July 7, at 11:59 p.m.

Last year, during the 102-hour holiday period, troopers and officers issued 15,459 citations, 15,650 warnings, and made 502 DUI arrests. They investigated 713 traffic crashes resulting in 385 injuries and 9 fatalities, with local law enforcement agencies investigating an additional 9 fatalities.

This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Georgia Hands-Free Law, effective since July 1, 2018. Troopers and officers have issued over 84,000 Hands-Free citations since the law’s inception.

“State Troopers and Officers will be out in full force patrolling the interstates, state routes, and local streets around Georgia during what AAA projects to be the busiest Independence Day holiday period on record,” said Colonel William W. Hitchens III, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. He emphasized the importance of obeying traffic laws, not driving distracted, wearing seatbelts, ensuring children are properly restrained, and never driving under the influence.

AAA projects 70.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 and increasing by 2.8 million travelers compared to last year.

During this holiday period, State troopers and officers will be on high-visibility patrols to minimize traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The Georgia State Patrol is participating in the Operation Zero Tolerance campaign against impaired driving and the 100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) campaign. Troopers will work alongside sheriff’s deputies and police officers to apprehend impaired drivers and crack down on aggressive speeders and distracted drivers.