As America's birthday nears, area police are reminding motorists to have a safe holiday and allow others to do the same.

Seymour Police Chief Bill Abbott said area police will be out in full force and with a sharp eye.

"Our guys are going to be looking for anything going on," Abbott said Monday.

According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, in 2008 five people were killed in automobile crashes during the Independence Day holiday in Indiana. There were also 131 alcohol-related crashes.
Seymour officers won‘t be alone.

Indiana State Police will participate in Operation C.A.R.E (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) from Friday through July 7 with 150 additional troopers patrolling roadways. Troopers will target impaired drivers, motorists who speed, follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes, drive aggressively and fail to buckle up.

Troopers will be especially aggressive with regards to child restraint and seatbelt laws.

County officers will also be watching for drunken drivers and others endangering public safety.

"We normally don't do a project. We don't do anything special as far as road stops or anything like that," Lt. Darin Downs of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department said. "We just step up coverage. What they will do is get out here on the main roadways and catch OWIs and speeders."

Despite several accidents around the state, in Jackson County it was relatively calm on America's birthday last year, Downs said.

"Even on New Year's Eve, it was fairly calm, too," Downs said.

"The Fourth of July is known for family get-togethers and social drinking, but unfortunately, people drink too much," Abbott said.

He advises people to stay safe and allow others to do the same: "I would just tell everybody to use common sense and to have consideration for their neighbors."