Memorial Day Weekend Safety

Memorial Day Weekend Safety

LANSING - As vacationers get ready to hit the road for the Memorial Day weekend, local law enforcement are reminding drivers to buckle up and slow down.

Safety belt enforcement zones are in effect in 40 counties across the state of Michigan through June 1st.

According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, during last year’s "Click It or Ticket" enforcement, 9,003 seat belt and child seat violation tickets were issued. Of the 15 people who died over the Memorial Day holiday period in 2013, two of the nine vehicle occupants were not wearing a seat belt.

While mostly a driving holiday, Memorial Day weekend will see 2.6 million Americans flying, AAA predicted, up 2.4% over last year. About 1.7 million will take a cruise or ride a bus or train.

The Michigan Department of Community Health are also urging people to "Fight the Bite" during the holiday weekend and throughout the summer as West Nile Virus was responsible for 36 illnesses and 2 fatalities in the state last year.

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