Memorial Day traffic heavy in South Georgia - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Memorial Day traffic heavy in South Georgia

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By Jim Wallace - bio | email

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Thousands of people are heading home from a long Memorial Day weekend.  And it's a dangerous time on Georgia roads.

There've already been 11 deaths on Georgia highways this holiday period, more than double last year's total.  So law officers are hoping drivers will use extra caution these last few hours.

The Georgia State Patrol says troopers are concentrating on secondary roads as well as the interstates as the Memorial Day travel period winds down.

Lots of people are on the road home, and they hope a high visibility of law enforcement will keep traffic safe.

 Georgia roads are crowded.

Trooper Darryl Benton said "This weekend we've seen a high volume of traffic. The gas prices don't seem to affect the travel this holiday season, so everybody is out enjoying themselves. We just want everyone to be safe."

But the Memorial Day Weekend has been more than twice as deadly on Georgia roads as last year, with 11 deaths reported so far. Last year the lowest number of death was recorded with just five people killed.

The Crash Reporting travel data records were started in 1969. Now Police and Troopers are on Georgia roads in force, looking for impaired drivers or people not wearing seat belts.

Dougherty County Police Lt. Kenneth Johnson said "We are asking that all people obey the traffic laws. Obey the speed limit. And be safe, and watch out for their surroundings."

These law enforcement officers want people to have a fun Memorial Day holiday, and want to make sure they get home safe.>

The highest number of traffic deaths on Georgia roads during the Memorial Day holiday was recorded in 2005, when 32 people were killed in crashes.

Five people were killed last Memorial Day weekend.

The 78 hour Holiday travel period ends at midnight.

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