Memorial Day Holiday Weekend Traffic Alert

**Alicia Leonard** · 05-22-2008, 12:36 PM

I just got this. Since it is too late to run in this weeks issue, I thought I would post it here. Everyone have a safe and happy holiday.

Memorial Day Holiday Weekend Traffic Alert
TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a Division of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), will be out in force during the 96-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend, which begins on Friday, May 23, 2008, and extends through midnight, Monday, May 26, 2008. The Florida Highway Patrol will participate in three distinct traffic enforcement operations during this period: Operation C.A.R.E. - a Combined Accident Reduction Effort, involving all 50 state police and highway patrol organizations (May 23-26); All-American Buckle Up Week (May 19-26); and the highly publicized Click It or Ticket mobilization campaign (May 19 - June 1). All three campaigns focus on saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing property damage associated with motor vehicle traffic crashes.

�Vehicle traffic is expected to increase significantly throughout the state during this four-day holiday period,� stated Colonel John T. Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. �We�ll be using all available resources to make Florida roadways safer. We are also reminding motorists to slow down and buckle up. This high visibility enforcement has a single goal in mind - to save lives,� emphasized Czernis.

All uniformed FHP personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, will be patrolling interstates and other major state roads throughout the four-day holiday period. This strategy is intended to increase the Patrol's presence on major arteries throughout Florida in an effort to deter traffic violators and to provide enhanced service to motorists who break down while traveling or need other assistance. In addition, our Auxiliary and Reserve troopers will be volunteering their time to assist regular troopers during the heightened holiday enforcements.

Motorists are reminded to use their cellular phones wisely and safely. FHP urges all drivers to call *FHP (*347) to report aggressive and/or drunk drivers or if they need assistance on the road. Motorists needing emergency medical services should dial 911.

**jjones** · 05-22-2008, 01:00 PM

thankx

**Carol G** · 05-22-2008, 10:43 PM

They are already out and about - I drove to Fort Walton Beach and back today, and counted 14 police cars during my journey.

**Snerd** · 05-24-2008, 11:05 AM

Any Destin traffic updates? I want (actually NEED) to go clothes shopping but don't want to waste gas by idling in traffic all afternoon. Does anyone know how bad 98 to Destin is today?

**Gypsea** · 05-24-2008, 11:09 AM

As I was headed on 331 to 10 yesterday afternoon I saw about 20 to 25 police cars headed this way. Let's hope we all have an eventless Memorial Day weekend.

**Alicia Leonard** · 05-24-2008, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Gypsea

As I was headed on 331 to 10 yesterday afternoon I saw about 20 to 25 police cars headed this way. Let's hope we all have an eventless Memorial Day weekend.

Yep, everyone is out this weekend. I saw the invaders /visitors last night on 331 in DeFunk headed your way. Man, you guys, please be careful.

**NoHall** · 05-24-2008, 12:20 PM

Coming down from Atlanta was like thi dad-gummed Exodus last night.

And the traffic on Grayton Beach today--zounds...

**SWGB** · 05-24-2008, 09:31 PM

Saw a bad wreck last night on 98 near Royal B. Car #1 was almost non-existent and mostly just frame left. Car #2 had some side damage. I think a lot of people forget that it gets real slippery when we haven't had any rain in a while.

**seagrovegirl** · 05-25-2008, 09:27 AM

I hear you about the traffic in Grayton yesterday!!! I have never seen it so crowded, ever. People were parking in the sand at the entrances to the beach. I considered sticking around and making some $ pulling them out! But had company with me and we had plans after sunset and couldn't stick around.

**ckhagen** · 05-25-2008, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

Saw a bad wreck last night on 98 near Royal B. Car #1 was almost non-existent and mostly just frame left. Car #2 had some side damage. I think a lot of people forget that it gets real slippery when we haven't had any rain in a while.

My husband passed that one too. He had gotten off work at 11:15ish and the only grocery store open at that time is WalMart and I needed some Creme of Tartar, BADLY. It wasn't there when he went passed the first time, but 15 minutes later it was. He said it was awful and he counted 5 cars involved all together. They mustn't have been very badly injured though because he said even though it had just happened, the passengers from the destroyed car, were already out and it isn't in the paper from what I can tell. Amazing.

**wrobert** · 05-25-2008, 09:23 PM

With locals and visitors I would expect things to be crowded. But how did the businesses do? We went to Pier Park this morning, got some coffee at Borders and walked to the movie to see the Indy flick. More people than usual for a Sunday morning, but seeing it was a holiday weekend, still not what I would have expected. Drove down the beach and it did not look all the crowded. Still people in the water with double reds flying, but not many on the beach. Lots of the hotel/motels still had vacancy signs up.

**ckhagen** · 05-25-2008, 09:37 PM

Robert, I went to Pier Park yesterday evening after Zion's birthday party (we had it a the Aquatic Center) and omg the place was packed. I could barely walk and we left because it was just too crowded. The waits for the restaurants were 2+ hours long. Dillards was nearly empty (their location sucks in there, too far out) though. I think you may have been at Pier Park at the wrong time or something.

I was out at Seaside tonight and there was hardly a seat to be found behind Pickles. The beach was pretty busy in Seagrove too, at least 5 times as many people as there were when I was at the same access on Friday.