By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The new year begins this weekend, and that means several New Years parties will be happening around St. Joseph.
Sargent Jake Angle with Troop H in St. Joseph says the Highway Patrol understands that people will be out celebrating with friends and families this year, and is urging people to make a plan if they know alcohol will be involved at these parties.
"Sometimes those celebrations include maybe alcohol, and we just want to encourage people, have a plan ahead of time, don't wait until maybe you've gone somewhere and you've had a couple drinks and you try to make that decision on how you're going to get home or what you're going to do," Angle tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Don't wait until that moment when maybe your judgment is impaired, plan ahead of time, have that sober designated driver, have that place to stay that's critically important."
Angle says if you are out driving this holiday and you see something that the highway patrol should be aware of, all you need to do is dial three digits into your phone.
"If you're out there and you see something, whether it's you believe someone is driving impaired, someone's operating their vehicle in a careless manner or something like that, *55 will get you to the closest troop headquarters if you feel something you witness out there like a crash," Angle says. "Or if they're driving so bad obviously 911."
On top of impaired drivers, the highway patrol is encouraging drivers to slow down with winter weather expected this weekend.
Angle says that as the snow falls and the roads become icy, before you head out to travel, you should ask yourself a few simple questions.
"Why am I out here driving on the roadways in these conditions, is this trip absolutely necessary, do I really need to be out here?" Angle says. "And I think a lot of the times, we don't want to answer that question, because we really want to go do something, but if we're really honest with ourselves, the answer is no, it's not worth the risk, it's not worth damaging property, potentially injuring yourself or someone else, or even being involved in a fatality crash."
Forecasters say upwards of six to eight inches of snow are expected to fall in St. Joseph over the weekend.