The Vermont State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
According to the state police, Vermont has had 42 traffic fatalities so far in 2014. Of those traffic fatalities, they say, four operators were impaired by alcohol and six by drugs (most commonly, marijuana) and that 44 percent of occupants were unbelted, improperly restrained, or not wearing a helmet.
“By using high visibility enforcement coupled with education, we will promote both our citizens and visitors to drive responsibly on our highways throughout the holiday season,” State Police Lt. Garry Scott said in a news release.
Operation CARE is a national campaign by state police across the country to reduce fatal accidents on the nation's highways, particularly during the national holidays.
Formed as a multi-jurisdictional program, Operation CARE seeks to deter the three key causes of highway fatalities: speeding, impaired driving, and failure to use occupant restraints.
Scott said the state police's priority remains focused on occupant protection and impaired and aggressive driving. Efforts will leverage organized, data-driven patrols and checkpoints.
“Traffic enforcement is a critical mission to the Vermont State Police and remains the single most effective tool in saving lives and detecting and deterring criminal activity,” Scott added.