ATLANTA — A statewide push for safety on Georgia’s roads and waterways begins tonight as the “Belts & Jackets” safety tour officially kicks off.
The campaign aims to reduce fatalities during the busy Memorial Day weekend by ensuring drivers are buckled up and boaters are wearing life jackets.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is partnering with law enforcement and game wardens across the state to promote awareness and increase enforcement.
The initiative comes after a deadly 2024 holiday weekend that claimed 16 lives across Georgia.
“One life is too many, and what we’re trying to do is bring awareness so that we can drive those numbers down,” said Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
Officials are emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for unsafe behavior throughout the holiday weekend. Georgia State Patrol troopers will be out in full force, looking for seat belt violations, speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving.
Meanwhile, game wardens will patrol lakes, rivers, and other waterways to ensure boaters are following safety laws, particularly the requirement to wear life jackets.
“I think the more that we talk about it, the more we get the information out and people learn to comply with the rules of the road and the water,” Poole said.
Authorities will also be targeting speeding, distracted driving, and DUI violations.
“This is what we call the unofficial start of the 100 days of summer,” Poole said.
WSB’s Sabrina Cupit contributed to this story
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