HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — If you're planning to get on the road this weekend, make sure you're not under the influence.
Huntsville Police Department's D.U.I. Task Force will be conducting Traffic Safety checkpoints through this weekend.
Police say that if you are stopped at a Traffic Safety Checkpoint, be prepared to present your driver license, proof of insurance and vehicle tag registration to the officers.
The D.U.I. Task Force uses data provided by NASO (North Alabama Safety Office) to determine "hot spots" for traffic accidents across the city. Right now there are 57 designated hotspots throughout Huntsville, and checkpoints will be at one or more of those locations.
If you see or suspect someone is drinking and driving please contact the Huntsville Police Department at 256-722-7100. When you call be prepared to give the location, vehicle description, driver description, and direction of travel for the suspected vehicle.
Some of the hotspot locations are below. This is not a complete list. Checkpoints could be at any of all of these locations.
Jordan Lane/Sparkman Dr.
Mastin Lake Rd./Lodge Rd.
Mastin Lake Rd./Pulaski Pike
Meridian St./Delaware Blvd.
Moores Mill Rd./Stanwood Blvd.
Bankhead Pkwy/Douglas Ln.
Cecil Ashburn/Old Big Cove Rd.
Church St./Pratt Ave.
Clinton Ave./Monroe St.
Sparkman Dr./Executive Dr.
University Dr./Old Monrovia Rd.
University Dr./Research Park Blvd.
University Dr./Slaughter Rd.
More people are getting back on the road as pandemic restrictions ease.
"People are limiting their traveling distance, trying to stay safe, trying to stay off the roadways, and not traveling as much as they would if the pandemic wasn't an issue," said Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Bailey says that this trend is apparent when comparing the number of incidents that occurred in years before the pandemic hit.
"Around this time in 2019, before the pandemic hit, we're still very much under our numbers, under our numbers in fatalities, just plain car wrecks and injuries of car wrecks," said Bailey.
As things open back up, more people will be hitting the road. Some, for the first time in a long time. ALEA has some reminders.
"One of the things that we see are the two main factors that cause car crashes: speed and our following distance. One of the easiest ways to remember your following distance is, whatever the speed limit is on a roadway, you double it. So if the speed limit is 70 on the interstate, you're expected to be at least 140 feet back from the vehicle in front of you, that way it will give you enough reaction time if you were to come to an abrupt stop," said Bailey.
"Always remember to limit your driving distractions, if it's a cell phone or just having extra occupants in the vehicle," said Bailey.
He also offers up a tip that may not come to the front of most people's minds when it comes to driving safety - time management.
"Consider whatever time it's gonna take to get to your destination and leave early," said Bailey.
These are some things you can do to help keep the roads safe, but ALEA will be doing its part too.
"As we know, the more troopers seen on the road, the more officers, the less wrecks are most likely to occur."
He also encourages you to call 911 or *HP if you do happen to see a wreck.