More traffic equals more police on road

More traffic over the holiday weekend means more officers on the road.

High lake traffic during summer months increases the number of crashes in Sedalia, and the Fourth of July is no different.

“During the holiday, Sedalia ranks 22nd in the state for crashes,” said Sedalia Patrolwoman Victoria Kottman. “That’s pretty high. ... The winter months don’t even make ranking.”

The Sedalia Police Department will have three to four additional officers on patrol in eight- to 10-hour stretches from Friday to Monday.

The officers’ overtime will be paid for through a hazardous moving violation enforcement grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation and Division of Highway Safety.

Officers will watch for speeding, improper lane usage, following too closely and failing to signal.

“Things that have potential to cause a crash,” Kottman said.

Enforcement will be concentrated on Broadway and Thompson boulevards, Limit Avenue and 16th Street.

Pettis County deputies are also participating in the hazardous moving violation enforcement grant and a driving while intoxicated enforcement grant. Two to eight extra officers will be on patrol on Friday and Saturday.

Deputy David Hockaday said deputies will cover “pretty much all” of the county in their patrols, but “there will be times we look at the corridors for lake traffic.”

Sedalia officers also will be making note of seat belt usage and child safety restraints. Kottman said drivers should know there will be more vehicles on the streets.

“Be patient,” she advised drivers. “Give people extra room in front of you. And, if you do decide to celebrate the weekend with alcohol, don’t drive, have a sober driver.”