SeeCalifornia.com

Labor Day Weekend isn’t the most traveled weekend on California’s roads, but the California Highway Patrol annually schedules its work force to be out in force to help you remember to drive safe. There’s no vacation for the CHP during the three-day holiday which is a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), beginning Friday and continuing through midnight on Monday. The CHP averages around 1,500 arrests for those suspected of driving under the influence every Labor Day MEP, and assists in collisions. In 2011, 29 people were killed in collisions across the state, a 38 percent increase from the previous year. Of those deaths, 19 were not wearing seatbelts.

The Automobile Club (AAA) predicts a 3.4% rise in travel with virtually the same destinations ranking as most popular for California travelers this year as last:

1) San Diego
2) Las Vegas
3) Central Coast (Santa Barbara to Monterey)
4) San Francisco

Gas prices are at a record high for the estimated 3.79 million Californians going more than 50 miles from home and staying overnight somewhere else. In 2008 the record gas price was  $3.90/gallon average, while 2012 breaks that record with an expected price of around $4.05-4.25.

 CHP DRIVING TIPS:

• Wear seatbelts and keep pets restrained
• Establish and enforce a distraction-free zone behind the wheel –don’t text, curb cell phone use, etc.
• Designate a non-drinking driver in advance or plan for alternative transportation if you will be consuming alcohol.
• If hosting a party, provide non-alcoholic drinks for the designated driver.
• Leave plenty of time to get to your destination so you are not speeding to get somewhere.
• Get plenty of rest and, if possible, coordinate with your passengers so that no one is driving while fatigued.
• California’s move over or slow down law  requires motorists to change to another freeway lane or, when not able to, slow to a reasonable speed to pass emergency personnel on the side of the freeway.
• Report suspected drunken drivers by calling 911.