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The Missouri State Highway Patrol is urging caution during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, which is one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Wednesday and Sunday afternoon/evenings are the most heavily traveled times, it says. Drivers should expect more traffic and the possibility of delays throughout the weekend.
The counting period is from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Troopers will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort), enforcing all traffic laws, and available to assist the public. Over the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, 11 people were killed and 571 injured in 1,664 traffic crashes.
Persons who plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend should be aware of work zones, obey all traffic laws and make sure everyone in their vehicle is wearing a seat belt or secured in the appropriate child safety seat for their size and age, the patrol says.
Missouri also is a hands-free state on cellular telephone usage.
There also is a new designation for a portion of U.S. 63 in Texas County from Cloverdale Road to Orchard Road beginning near Gardner Ford. Due to a high number of serious accidents, fines will be doubled for offenders. Signage is up, and goes into effect on Nov. 24.
Due to ongoing road construction throughout the state, the patrol suggests that travelers use the MoDOT Traveler Information Map to plan their travel days. The map provides up-to-date information such as road closures, delays, construction zones and alternative routes. There is a free cell phone version.
The public is encouraged to call the patrol’s Emergency Report Line, 800-525-5555 or *55, on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity, observe driving behavior that could cause a crash or experience an emergency. These phone numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies.