Fatal crashes on the state’s highways are down 17 per cent from last year – and police would like to keep that number low.

Maine State Police plan additional patrols this Thanksgiving weekend looking for speeders and aggressive drivers.

State Police Chief Col. Michael R. Sperry said 179 people have died on Maine roads this year compared to 216 fatalities during all of 2002. Last year’s highway deaths include the state’s worst crash ever: Fourteen woods workers were killed when their van crashed into the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

Highway traffic is expected to be heavy in many locations around Maine this weekend, Sperry said. He urged drivers to be well-rested, to plan ahead and to avoid drinking and driving.

Winter driving tips

The chief also urged drivers to make sure their vehicles are ready for winter weather with proper tires and windshield wipers, and to ensure that heaters, defrosters, lights and batteries are in good working order.

Vehicles should be equipped with blankets, shovels, booster cables, flares and buckets of sand or salt for winter emergencies. The chief said motorists needing help can call 911 on their cell phones to be connected to the nearest State Police dispatching center.

The chief had advice for driving safely during storm conditions.

“Motorists must realize that driving at the posted speed limit during storm conditions does not mean they are in control of their vehicle,” Sperry said. “Ice, snow and rain reduce a driver’s ability to stop as well as steer.”

The chief said adjusting speed and allowing for adequate braking distance are essential safety factors when driving in Maine during the winter months.

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