Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods in Indiana and local, county and state police are adding extra patrols to increase safety on the state’s streets and highways.

“Until Dec. 1, we will have saturation patrols as part of a comprehensive effort to curb impaired driving,” Hamilton County Sheriff Mark Bowen stated. “Anyone found to be driving impaired will be arrested. Also, occupants not using seat belts or who are not properly restrained will be cited and given a ticket.”

“In Indiana, more than 50 percent of fatalities in auto accidents are due to passengers who did not buckle up,” Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt stated.

According to Hamilton County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Andre Miksha, law enforcement  agencies from across the state, including the Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers and Westfield Police Dept.’s and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office are jointly participating in a statewide effort to crack down on  impaired driving and seatbelt enforcement during over the Thanksgiving holiday period.

“Since the crackdown began on Nov. 8, we have arrested four drivers for impaired driving and have

issued 67 citations for not wearing seat belts in Noblesville,” Jowitt stated.

In November 2012, there were 355 alcohol-related crashes across Indiana resulting in 155 injuries and 5 fatalities.