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Agencies Team Up to Keep Roadways Safe Over Memorial Weekend

05/26/2016

Agencies Team Up to Keep Roadways Safe Over Memorial Weekend

There were more than 400 crashes, resulting in 6 deaths and 128 injuries over the Memorial Weekend last year in Kansas.  Preliminary information indicates that impaired drivers contributed to some of those deaths and injuries.

In an effort to keep Cherokee County motorists safe during the holiday weekend this year, on Friday May 27th, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office will join with the Galena and Baxter Springs Police Departments and our partners with the Kansas Highway Patrol, to kick off the Memorial Day Weekend enforcement period.

“For more than 30 years, officers have educated and warned passengers and drivers about the importance of buckling up and utilizing designated drivers,” Sheriff David Groves advised in announcing the coordinated enforcement effort.  

“Law enforcement leaders and officers in Cherokee County want to change the trend of impaired driving and occupants not being properly belted at night because we have seen first-hand the results of these dangerous practices.  We have all responded to too many crashes where serious injuries and deaths could have been prevented by simply getting a designated driver or buckling a seatbelt.” 

“We want those traveling through Cherokee County this weekend to be able to do so as safely as possible.  As a result, officers will be stopping those who refuse to obey traffic laws, whether it is for speeding, texting while driving, failing to buckle up or driving while impaired or any other number of traffic violations.”

Sheriff Groves emphasized, “Even one traffic fatality is unacceptable. Just slow down, put the phone away or turn it off, always buckle up, and please, if your holiday plans include alcohol, be sure you have a sober designated driver.”

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