The Community Times Dispatch

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is preparing for motorists to begin heavily traveling on Thursday, July 3.

?Since July 4 falls on a Friday, we believe many people will decide to take off work Thursday making it a long weekend,? said SCDPS Director Mark Keel. ?Even with gas prices higher during this year?s travel period, we believe there will still be substantial traffic with people heading to attractions within the state.?

The official July 4 travel period begins 6 p.m., Thursday, July 3, and ends on Monday, July 6, at midnight ? a 78-hour period. Last year four people were killed during the 30-hour holiday travel period.

The Highway Patrol, a division of SCDPS, and local law enforcement partners will begin their heightened enforcement efforts as much as a week before to cover the holiday weekend to weekend.

Motorists should be aware that the Highway Patrol and local law enforcement will be conducting more enforcement activity than normal. This includes a saturation of troopers on high fatality or collision roadways; public safety checkpoints, LIDAR, a handheld radar, as well as stationery radar. Motorcycle units and unmarked patrol cars will be used as well.

While statewide year-to-date fatalities are down, Troop Six fatalities have increased from last year with 90 compared to 84. Troop Six includes Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester and Jasper counties. Berkeley and Charleston are the two counties showing increases with fatalities up 10 in Berkeley county (26/16) and two in Charleston County (31/29).

Automobile vs. pedestrian collisions remain high in Charleston County. Single vehicle collisions remain high Troop wide. Lack of seat belt usage and proper child restraints continue to be problematic in this area.

Some of the highways of special focus during July 4 will include I-26, I-95, US 17, US 17 ALT, US 52, US 278, US 78, SC 170, SC 642 and SC 6.

DUI enforcement and saturation patrols will be increased in historical problem spots including Hilton Head resort areas. The lower regions of Beaufort and Jasper will be heavily patrolled for DUI offenders, as well as highways surrounding Lake Moultrie in Berkeley County. US 17 north and south of Charleston in Charleston County will also be an area of special focus.

?The Lowcountry can be especially vulnerable during summer holidays as motorists head for the beach areas and surrounding waterways,? said Troop 6 Commander Captain James Woods. ?Our message is to be on guard for impaired drivers and if you are planning to consume alcohol, plan a ride home or stay where you are.?

Violations that are problematic during this time include: speeding/too fast for conditions failure to yield the right of way; and improper/unlawful lane change.

The Highway Patrol shows that historically the following times tend to yield more fatal collisions: 3:01 p.m. ? 6 p.m.; 12:01 p.m. ? 3 p.m.; 6:01 p.m. ? 9 p.m.

SCDPS will continue its enforcement and education partnership with SC Department of Natural Resources. The two agencies routinely coordinate efforts around waterways during summer holidays tackling DUI and speeding on water and surrounding roadways.

The two agencies have also released a public service announcement alerting motorists about the combined enforcement: http://www.schp.org/cro_videos.html.

When making a traffic stop, motorists can expect law enforcement to activate their blue lights. Troopers must be in full uniform wearing their campaign hats. Motorists should slow down, indicate their intent to stop and pull off the roadway in a safe location, out of traffic. Motorists should stay in their vehicles. The trooper or officer will approach the vehicle and ask to see their license, registration and vehicle insurance.

The Highway Patrol also encourages motorists to ensure their vehicles are properly maintained. Vehicles often break down due to the extreme temperatures this time of year.

Before traveling, ensure fluid levels ? especially coolant — are adequate; tires are properly inflated and the tread is good and not bald.

If motorists break down, they should stay in their vehicles, pull as far off the roadway as possible, activate their emergency lights and call *HP or their local sheriff?s office. Motorists are strongly discouraged from walking on any roadways for emergency assistance especially interstates.