During this Labor Day holiday weekend, the Michigan State Police (MSP) is reminding motorists to make safety a priority during their holiday travel. Again this year, MSP troopers will join their counterparts from across the country in the international traffic safety initiative, Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort).

Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, Director of the MSP, said "as part of Operation C.A.R.E. and the statewide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over drunk driving campaign, troopers will take a zero-tolerance approach to drivers who are operating under the influence of alcohol and drugs."

The official Labor Day weekend began at 6 p.m. on Friday and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 2. Last year, eight crashes resulted in eight deaths over the Labor Day weekend. Of those who died, four were not wearing seat belts.

Operation C.A.R.E. - which began as a collaborative effort between the MSP and Indiana State Police in 1977 - was formed to deter three causes of highway fatalities: aggressive driving, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints.

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