POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- With a major holiday like Thanksgiving coming up, the amount of traffic will also increase along the highways.
As you make that trip for your Thanksgiving gathering, law enforcement wants you to know how to prepare and what you can expect while out on the roads.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Clark Parrott says before you leave your driveway, check your car tires, belts, make sure you have your phone charger and some snacks.
Also, be sure and check real-time travel sites like the
"It is a free app that has a map of the state of Missouri and we need to stress that it is just for Missouri, but it will tell you road conditions, construction zones, traffic crash alerts, things like that to help you divert or at least know that you're going to be in traffic for a little bit," Parrott said.
State and local police agencies will be out on the roads making sure everyone obeys the law and is safe. Sergeant Parrott urges safety on your part as well, so you don't become another statistic.
"The number one thing that we can do to reduce our fatal traffic crashes in Missouri is to make sure that our seat belts are properly adjusted and fastened at all times, including our passengers in the back seat, make sure the little ones are in a booster seat or an approved car seat as well," Parrott said.
He also said the biggest thing is to take some patience along with you and understand this is the busiest travel season of the year.
