Long Beach Police Want Safe Travels For Memorial Day Vacationing

LONG BEACH, NY — As more Long Islanders get vaccinated, more Long Islanders will get away for the Memorial Day weekend.

But, it is one of the busiest travel times on the road, and deadliest.

The National Safety Council estimates that 415 people may die on U.S. roads this Memorial Day holiday period.

With that in mind, the Long Beach Police Department is encouraging drivers and passengers to take the simple step of buckling up.

Commissioner Ronald Walsh announced Long Beach is participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's seatbelt enforcement campaign.

"Statistically, the chance of injury or death in a motor vehicle accident is lowered when seatbelts are worn," Walsh said. "This campaign is being implemented as part of the Long Beach Police Department's goal of providing the safest possible roadways to the residents and visitors of the City of Long Beach."

It is the annual initiative timed around the heavily traveled Memorial Day holiday.

From May 27 through May 31, more than 34 million are expected to hit the road for at least a 50-mile trip, AAA Travel said on its website. That would be a 60 percent increase from last year when only 23 million traveled, the group said.