Millions expected to hit the road for holiday travel
The Fourth of July weekend is expected to break records for the amount of people hitting the roads.
The California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies will be cracking down on dangerous drivers.
With gas prices about 50 cents a gallon cheaper than the same time last year, more people than ever are expected to hit the road. Many locals are looking to celebrate and escape the heat.
“I think we might go to the beach but we have summer passes to the Tram so that’s like a lot easier to get away in the summer time,” said Aaron Hansen, of Desert Hot Springs.
For people choosing to travel at night on the Interstate 10, there are no scheduled lane closures for construction on the Jefferson overpass.
Officers with the local highway patrol and local agencies are going to keep a sharp eye out for anyone who is speeding or could be driving under the influence.
“Especially on a holiday weekend, that’s something we take extra care of and have extra units so we can try to cut down on traffic collisions,” said Cmdr. Jim Henson of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.
“Saving lives is always the first concern for our officers,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Motorists will help make everyone’s holiday safer by driving sober, fastening their seat belts and obeying the speed limits.”
In 2015, on the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the CHP make 930 DUI arrests. Ten of those were in the Coachella Valley.
