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State police wants to cut accidents by 10 percent this Thanksgiving

Michigan State Police

The Michigan State Police wants to reduce traffic accidents this Thanksgiving weekend by 10 percent.

Last year 12 motorists died on Michigan roads over the holiday. Sergeant Jill Gleason says that was an increase compared to 2012, when nine people died – but there have been worse years.

“We’ve had as high as 20 to 21 over the Thanksgiving period,” Gleason says. “So even though it did go up a little, it still was not nearly as high as we’ve had in the past.”

Gleason says the state is receiving around $200,000 from the federal government that will pay for extra road patrols and overtime during the busy travel weekend.

The state has a goal of “reducing serious injuries and fatalities by 10 percent over a three-year period,” according to Gleason.

She says weather plays a large role in safety on the roads each year.