The Michigan State Police (MSP) is dedicating traffic patrols during the Thanksgiving weekend in an effort to improve traffic safety during the heavily traveled holiday.  Starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21, MSP troopers will join other state police and highway patrol agencies from across the United States and Canada for the nationwide safety initiative, Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort).

"The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is traditionally one of the most traveled weekends of the year," said Colonel Peter C. Munoz, Director of the MSP.  "To make sure we all make it to our destinations safely, troopers will be on Michigan roadways looking for unsafe driving practices including drunk drivers and safety belt violations."

The MSP is also reminding motorists to check the MSP Winter Travel Advisory before heading out on the roads to get the most up-to-date weather-related road conditions.  The MSP Winter Travel Advisory is available at www.michigan.gov/roadconditions or by calling 1-800-381-8477.

The official Thanksgiving holiday weekend begins at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 21, and runs through midnight, on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007.  Last year there were 18 fatal traffic crashes, which resulted in 21 deaths over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.