Setting of fireworks isn’t the only way to celebrate the Fourth of July, and the Indiana State Police knows it.

As the holiday weekend nears, the ISP will be stepping up patrols to make Independence Day safer for everyone. According to ISP Sgt. Noel Houze, five people were killed in automobile crashes on Indiana roadways during the Fourth of July period. And according to Megan LaMade of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, three of those crashes were alcohol related. In addition, there were 131 alcohol related crashes during the July 4 holiday weekend in 2008.

To help ensure the safety of all motorists during the heavily traveled holiday period, the Indiana State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) from July 3 through July 7. Operation C.A.R.E. is a federally funded traffic safety program that gives troopers the opportunity to work overtime to make Hoosier roadways safer during the busy holiday. Troopers will also participate in the Statewide Driving Under The Influence Enforcement Project, or SWDUIEP.

SWDUIEP is a federally funded traffic enforcement project, and troopers will be focusing their enforcement efforts on impaired drivers. Additionally, troopers will be aggressively enforcing Indiana’s seat belt and child restrain laws, as well as targeting motorists who speed, follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes and other aggressive or unsafe driving maneuvers.

The Indiana State Police encourage all motorists to observe the following safety tips: If you’re planning to travel a long distance, make sure you are well rested because a fatigued driver is a dangerous driver; avoid tailgating and remember the two-second rule; make sure everyone is buckled up; and never drink and drive.

The Indiana State Police would like everyone to remember that driving comes with important responsibilities to oneself, one’s passengers, and other motorists.