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Welcome to summer, baby! Memorial Day weekend is almost here, meaning it’s time for families to load up their cars and hit the road. But while traveling to the lake, beach, or BBQ, remember that cops are watching for driver mistakes. 

Cops are watching for driver mistakes during Memorial Day 

Don’t start your summer off on the wrong foot by getting a ticket over Memorial Day weekend. A record number of travelers are setting out to enjoy the holiday. 

Roughly 43.8 million travelers will be congesting the highways, which is a 4.0% increase over 2023. Traffic accidents and deaths spike each Memorial Day, so cops are watching vehicles for driver mistakes like hawks to keep the general public safe. 

This year, cops are cracking down on drunk driving by carefully observing traffic for intoxicated drivers and by setting up more DUI checkpoints. If you plan to drink, be sure to have a responsible designated driver. 

One sign of drunk driving is speeding, so slow your truck down. Follow the speed limit to avoid sticking out like a sore thumb. Aggressive tailgating is another sign of intoxication. 

Some drunk drivers may drive under the speed limit and brake early to make it seem like they’re sober. However, driving too slowly can make you hazardous to surrounding traffic. 

A police officer writing a citation
A officer writing a ticket | iStock

Of course, drunk drivers are prone to swerving because alcohol makes it difficult to concentrate. Stay focused on the road without distractions such as cell phones or eating. 

Drinking slows reaction times down as well. People may react to a red light too late or run through stop signs. 

Smaller driving mistakes that could get you pulled over include hugging the center line, not wearing your seatbelt, and the failure to use your turn signals. 

Plus, it’s always helpful to avoid road rage. Aggressively blaring your horn and keeping speed with someone as you try to yell at them through the windows is incredibly dangerous. 

If you see a drunk driver, be sure to keep your distance for safety. Call 911 or the police as soon as possible to stop a collision before it happens hopefully. Also, consider an alternate route if the main highway seems too dangerous.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.