Memorial Day is not only the official kick off of the summer travel season, but is also one of the busiest travel days of the year, according to a USA Today article from 2017.
Dennis Butler, director of the Riley County Police Department, says the occasion is a good opportunity to brush up on travel safety.
“It’s just a good time to remind them to wear their seat belt, don’t drink and drive and just be safe and have fun,” Butler said.
Butler says the weekend also marks the end of the annual Click It or Ticket safety campaign, which is implemented alongside the Kansas Department of Transportation.
“This one started on May 21 and ends on Monday (May 31),” Butler said. “It focuses on seat-belt usage, but other safety violations that could also cause crashes or be dangerous or things the officers are remaining aware of.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 9,500 unbuckled vehicle passengers were killed in car crashes in the United States in 2019.
