No Thanksgiving break for SC Highway Patrol

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Thanksgiving Day doesn’t mean much of a break for the South Carolina Highway Patrol, which plans to have all its troopers working on the holiday.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports (http://bit.ly/uQ06v5 ) that even those troopers normally doing administrative tasks are expected to be out on the road at the start of the year’s busiest travel time.

Capt. Chris Williamson says troopers are putting special focus on seat belts and intoxicated drivers.

So far this year, 734 people have died on South Carolina roads, five more than at this time in 2010. Williamson says 253 of them weren’t wearing seat belts, and that in an average year about half of all fatal accidents in the state involve drinking and driving.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com