A holiday enforcement period will be conducted by troopers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol this week.

The enforcement period started  Wednesday, November 21, at 12:01 a.m. and will wrap up Sunday, November 25, at midnight.

This proactive enforcement effort is being conducted in response to the expected heavy traffic, as part of the holiday. Officially called “Operation Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort,” the enforcement period is part of Operation CARE.

During this period state troopers will be conducting saturation patrols as they look for speeding, seatbelt and reckless driving violations.

“Drivers should avoid text messaging or any driver distraction that could endanger lives and have sober designated drivers in place when necessary,” said Capt. John Poulos, Director of Public Affairs for MHP.

Last year during the Thanksgiving holiday week, MHP worked 163 crashes that included five fatalities. In that same time period 46 DUI arrests were made on state and federal highways.

“We are asking motorists to join with us in making the roadways safer in Mississippi and to include safe driving as part of their holiday traveling plans.” Poulos said in the release.