GRAY — State police plan to have additional troopers on patrol and a plane in the air for the long Thanksgiving weekend, according to a news release.
Chief of the state police, Col. Robert Williams, said troopers will look for aggressive, impaired and texting drivers. In addition, troopers will also look for seat-belt violators, following a rash of fatal crashes this month in which occupants were not buckled up.
According to Williams, in six of the past 10 highway deaths, the victims were not wearing seat belts and died after being thrown out of vehicles.
The chief cautioned drivers to be prepared for sudden winter driving conditions over the weekend as falling temperatures can result in ice and snow on the roadways.
According to the statement, the four-day Thanksgiving weekend traditionally has been a deadly one on Maine roads. There have been at least four deaths in each of the past four Thanksgiving weekends.
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