POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- While Southeast Missouri residents enjoy a break from their work during the three-day Labor Day holiday, Missouri's Highway Patrol officers will be on the job.
Once again, officers in Troop E will take part in the 20-Mile Trooper project to promote safety and to reduce the number of crashes in the Troop E area from Aug. 31 through Sept. 3.
According to Capt. George E. Ridens, commanding officer of Troop E, Poplar Bluff, Troop E will post a trooper every 20 miles on Interstates 55 and 57, and on selected secondary roads. The objective of the project is to place a trooper in close proximity of motorists who may need assistance and to aggressively enforce all traffic law violations which may contribute to unsafe traveling conditions, he said.
"This weekend is the traditional end of the summer season, and we will make every effort to keep the motoring public safe during their travels," said Ridens in a news release. "Last year, we saw a nine percent increase in fatalities in the Troop E area, and we will do everything we can to reduce this statistic. So, please, wear your seat belt and don't drink and drive."
The Missouri State Highway Patrol urges all citizens to report any vehicle they observe operating in a careless manner. The public can contact the Highway Patrol toll-free at 1-800-525-5555 or on their cellular phone at *55.