Law enforcement officials urge safety for the upcoming holiday weekend.

“The combination of travel, alcohol and fireworks has made July the nation’s deadliest month and the Fourth of July our most dangerous holiday,” Pell City Police Chief Greg Turley said. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 33,963 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2009; 3,000 of those fatalities were in July.”

Turley said according to the most recent data available from the National Safety Council, July Fourth is the most lethal holiday for drivers, with alcohol factoring into nearly half of all motor vehicle deaths over the July Fourth holiday.

He said the Pell City Police Department began proactive safety patrols Wednesday, and will continue those patrols until Monday night.

“Officers will be using traffic safety grant funds to target impaired drivers, reckless drivers, and seat belt violations,” he said. “Motorists will notice both marked and unmarked police vehicles displaying the red ‘SEATBELT ENFORCEMENT Click it or Ticket’ symbols this year.”

Turley said the red symbols are used to remind drivers of the importance of using their seat belts and the department’s adherence to life-saving safety enforcement.

“Another tragic holiday pairing is fireworks and kids,” he said. “Of the estimated 10,800 people treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, nearly half are under 15 years old.”

Turley said children between the ages of 10 and 14 have three times the risk for fireworks injuries than the general population. About a third of the injuries are from small firecrackers, 21 percent from bottle rockets, and about 20 percent from sparklers.

“We will have extra officers doing patrols and checking for drunk driving, speeding, and patrolling in high-traffic areas,” Sylacauga Police Department Lt. Fremon Edwards said. “We will have checkpoints as well.”

Edwards said the extra patrols begin tonight, and the officers will patrol on Friday and Saturday nights each weekend during July and August.

Lincoln Police Capt. Darren Britton said the Police Department will have extra patrols and checkpoints as well, with emphasis on safety.

Talladega Police Capt. Leon Thomas said his Police Department will focus on impaired drivers and other safety issues during regular patrols this weekend.

“We wish everyone a happy holiday and drive safely,” he said.

Alabama state troopers are also gearing up for safety during the holiday in preparation for the anticipated increase in traffic on Alabama’s roadways.

According to a press release, all available troopers will be on duty throughout the 78-hour holiday travel period from 6 p.m. Friday through midnight Monday. Overtime funding provided by the Alabama Department of Community Affair’s Law Enforcement/Traffic Safety Section and the Alabama Department of Transportation will help fund the extra patrols.

Public Safety Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy urged motorists to exercise care, caution and patience.

“Make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up and properly restrained,” he said.

Murphy said it is important for motorists to remain focused on the task of driving, and reminded drivers that even momentary distractions can lead to a crash.

He said traffic laws and regulations are in place to help ensure motorists’ safety, as well as the safety of their passengers and all others who share the roadways. Troopers will especially be watching for those violations that often lead to traffic crashes including drunken driving, speeding, illegal passing, and following too closely.

Murphy said last year during the 78-hour July Fourth holiday travel period, five people, including one pedestrian and four vehicle occupants, lost their lives in traffic crashes in Alabama. A majority of those deaths — at least three — were alcohol-related, and three of the four vehicle occupants were not using safety restraints.

Murphy also asked motorists to be especially alert to troopers and other law enforcement officers and first responders who will be working to ensure a safe holiday weekend. State law requires motorists to safely more over one lane, or to slow down when moving over isn’t possible, when passing emergency vehicles stopped roadside with emergency lights activated.

Turley said some easy — and potentially lifesaving — precautions include:

• An estimated 174 lives may be saved this holiday because people will wear their safety belts, and an additional 48 lives could be saved if all wore safety belts.

• Think ahead if you plan on consuming alcohol. Designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.

• If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.

• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the road to law enforcement.

• Don’t let friends drive drunk. Take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements.

Contact Elsie Hodnett at ehodnett@dailyhome.