Traffic Enforcement Ramping Up for Holiday Season

The holidays are upon us, and many residents will be traveling this week to see family and friends all across New England.

New Hampshire State Police are doing their part to help ensure these visits don't end in tragedy because of impaired or distracted driving.

State police agencies from throughout New England joined forces recently at the Massachusetts State Police headquarters in Framingham to explain their Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.) program.

Increased patrols this week will be cracking down on impaired/drunk driving, texting while driving and seatbelt law violations, among other things.

C.A.R.E. is a joint venture helping troopers keep an eye on incidents in the area, especially as motorists can easily travel between the small New England states.

In New Hampshire, state police this year have already dealt with 94 deaths from motor vehicle crashes. New Hampshire State Police Capt. John LeLacheur said the stepped-up patrols are an effort to keep that number under 100 for the year.

"Last year we had 13 deaths between Thanksgiving and New Year's," said LeLacheur. "In the past, we've noticed mid-week spikes late in December when offices are having Christmas parties, so those times will be enforced more on the roads."

According to LeLacheur, many of the crashes don't happen on the main highways in the state, but rather, on the smaller secondary roads.

Capt. Karen Pinch of the Rhode Island State Police said her department will nearly double the patrols during the holiday season. Pinch also said they have stepped up their enforcement and have issued more citations for distracted driving and seatbelt violations than last year.

"Traffic enforcement remains the single most effective tool in detecting and diminishing criminal activity," said Vermont State Police Lt. John Flannigan.