By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
As the calendar is about to flip to a new year, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is encouraging drivers to be safe during their New Year's celebrations.
Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says one of the most common infractions drivers are pulled over for during New Years, is impaired driving.
Hux says if you are planning on doing anything that would impair your driving, make sure you plan accordingly.
"Designate a sober driver, in the St. Joseph area you have multiple options there for ride share programs, public transportation, Uber, Lyft, things like that," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "If you live out in the rural area where those services are not offered, you just have to plan accordingly, plan ahead, designate a sober driver and utilize that sober driver."
Hux says if you encounter someone that might be driving impaired during your travels, it's best to practice defensive driving.
"If the vehicle in front of you or coming up behind you obviously is creating lane violations, crossing the center line, traveling onto the shoulder, get to a safe place maybe to where you can pull off the roadway and let that vehicle in front of you and then call star 55 or 911," Hux explains.
"Star 55 should get you the nearest troop headquarters, and you can report that vehicle."
Currently, sunny weather is expected throughout the holiday, but highs are only expected to get just above 30 during the day, dropping to lows below 20 at night.
Hux says though, weather in northwest Missouri can change on a dime, so make sure you're prepared as you travel.
"If you go to a gathering, it may not be doing anything, and maybe while you're in there it does snow, you're going to have to come out and make sure you clean your vehicle off completely," Hux points out. "The roadway conditions can change in the blink of an eye, so definitely going to have to decrease your speed, increase your following distance, to make sure you get to your destination safely."
Troopers will be out in force starting today as holiday travel begins and will be out through Monday when drivers are expected to travel home.