Highway Patrol promotes safe driving during the holidays

Credit: Mississippi Highway Patrol

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is getting set to conduct the 2022 “Home for the Holidays”  Christmas and New Year’s Holiday Travel Enforcement Campaign with the mission of getting travelers safely  to and from their holiday destinations.  

Troopers will focus on speeding, distracted, and impaired driving laws while using safety checkpoints to  monitor seatbelt usage and remove impaired drivers from roadways. The Christmas period will begin on Friday,  Dec. 23, at 6:00 a.m. and will conclude Monday, Dec. 26, at midnight. The New Year’s period will  commence on Friday, Dec. 30, at 6:00 a.m. and end on Monday, January 2, at midnight.  

“The Mississippi Highway Patrol is committed to keeping our citizens and roadways safe especially during the  holidays,” said Commissioner Sean Tindell. “Thank you to our men and women who are working during this  time. Stay safe, buckle up, put your phone down, and have a happy holiday season!”  

“The Holiday season is a special time of year in which we all look forward to spending time with friends and  family,” said Colonel Randy Ginn. “ In addition to time with their loved ones, our Troopers will be working to  make sure Mississippi motorists arrive home safely for the holidays and enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy  New Year.” 

During the 2021 Christmas Travel Enforcement Period, MHP investigated 174 crashes with one fatality, made 146 DUI arrests, and issued 589 citations for occupant restraint violations on state and federal highway systems. 

In the 2022 New Year’s Travel Enforcement Period, MHP investigated 178 crashes with two fatalities, made  279 DUI arrests, and issued 1,421 citations for occupant restraint violations on Mississippi roadways.