Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start to summer, and Connecticut State Troopers are preparing for increased traffic for the upcoming weekend as well as for summer 2019 celebrations and vacations.

State Troopers ask all drivers to utilize courteous, lawful driving skills, plan for traffic delays due to road construction, and make safety their top priority whenever they get behind the wheel. These actions will ensure safe travel to and from destinations.

Some safety tips — and laws — to remember: Buckle up, obey speed limits, don’t follow too closely, remove distractions while driving, stay off the cellphone, and never drink and drive.

In addition, the “Move Over” law requires motorists approaching stationary emergency vehicles to immediately slow to a speed below the posted speed limit and, if traveling in the lane adjacent to an emergency vehicle, to move over one lane, unless it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. As defined by law, “emergency vehicle” is any vehicle with activated flashing lights, including ambulances, fire vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles, or licensed wreckers. Pay attention to these vehicles and those who work in them.

Police Departments across the country began a “Click It or Ticket” Campaign on May 20, running through June 2, 2019. Do your part by buckling up — It’s the law, and it saves lives.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,076 people who were not buckled in passenger vehicles lost their lives in crashes nationwide in 2017. State Police are partnering with local law enforcement agencies as well as neighboring State Police agencies to step up seat belt enforcement with the goal of protecting all motorists.

“We ask Connecticut drivers to set an example for others on the road by obeying all traffic laws. Together, State Police and state residents can keep Connecticut’s roadways safe during the Memorial Day weekend and all summer long,” said James C. Rovella, commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

During Memorial Day Weekend 2019, motorists should be aware that Connecticut State Troopers will employ all methods of enforcement to increase highway safety, including laser units for speed enforcement, as well as marked and unmarked, non-traditional police vehicles to patrol our highways and roadways.

State Police Colonel Stavros Mellekas noted, “Lawful driving behavior by all motorists is key to avoiding tragedies on Connecticut’s highways. The enforcement efforts of our Troopers — along with drivers who follow state law — are vital to maintaining non-hazardous situations for drivers and passengers.”

During Memorial Day Weekend of 2018, Connecticut State Police arrested 38 drunk drivers, charged 909 motorists with speeding, 396 with seat belt violations and 2,708 with Hazardous Moving Violations (including unsafe lane change, following too closely, cellphone use, etc.). In addition, Troopers investigated 313 motor vehicle accidents, 62 of those with injury, and one fatality.

This year Troopers will concentrate enforcement on all hazardous moving violations, seat belt use, and illegal cell phone use. Sobriety checkpoints will be set up at several locations throughout the state over the holiday weekend.

If you plan to drink, please designate a driver. If you see a suspected drunk driver, report it immediately by calling 911, as this is a true emergency.

Roving patrols will be on the roads all over the state this Memorial weekend. Among them:

Troop A: May 23-May 28 — 7 pm to 4 am: Greater Waterbury and Danbury areas;

Troop G: May 23 — 7 pm to 3 am: Interstates 95 and 91, Route 34, New Haven area; May 24 — 7 pm to 3 am: Interstate 95, Routes 8 & 25, Merritt Parkway, Bridgeport, Stratford, Trumbull; May 26 — 7 pm to 3 am: DUI Checkpoint & BAT mobile, Interstate 95, northbound & southbound off-ramp, New Haven;

Troop L: May 23-May 28 — 7 pm to 4 am: Route 8 corridor between exits 37 & 42, Routes 6 & 64 in Woodbury, Routes 202 & 254 in Litchfield, Routes 7 & 341 in Kent, Routes 63 & 109 in Morris, Routes 45 & 47 in Washington, Routes 132 & 61 in Bethel, Route 4 in Burlington & Harwinton, Route 72 in Harwinton.