LOS ANGELES — The California Highway Patrol is stepping up traffic enforcement for the Thanksgiving weekend. Starting at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday and lasting through 11:59 p.m.
On Sunday, the state agency will deploy all available officers to look for unsafe behaviors, such as impaired and distracted driving, speeding and not wearing seatbelts.
“As with every holiday, the CHP will work to keep motorists safe as they travel to gatherings with friends and family,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said in a statement. “Our officers will be on patrol to take enforcement action as necessary and to provide assistance to motorists who are stranded or in need of help on the side of the road.”
A record-breaking 4.5 million Southern Californians are expected to travel this Thanksgiving weekend, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. The busiest travel days are the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward.
During the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 42 people were killed in crashes within CHP’s jurisdiction.
Officers issued over 5,600 citations for speed and seat belt violations and made 1,033 arrests for driving under the influence over the four-day weekend.