FAIRHOPE, Ala. — State public safety officials and local law enforcement agencies are calling for caution when hitting the highway this weekend. The push for safety is on, and hope is high that fatalities and injuries on the road will be relatively low this weekend.

“With heavier than usual traffic expected during this extended holiday weekend, we will aggressively enforce traffic laws,” said Col. Hugh B. McCall, director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety. “Troopers will target such dangerous behavior as speeding, DUI, distracted driving and following too closely, all of which cause crashes and contribute to more severe crashes.”

Troopers will be out in force, making patrols and looking out for stranded drivers, according to McCall. All available troopers will be on duty throughout the weekend.

The Memorial Day holiday travel period begins at 6 p.m. today and ends at midnight on Monday. Last year, 10 people were killed in traffic accidents statewide. Of those deaths, at least seven were alcohol related, and seven victims were not wearing seatbelts.

The Click It Or Ticket campaign is spreading awareness that seatbelts and child safety restraints are mandatory under state law.

Meanwhile, a survey report issued by the AAA motoring organization indicates 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2 percent – or 500,000 travelers – from the 34.3 million people who traveled during the same time period last year.

“The overall domestic economic picture continues to improve slightly, however, American consumers faced a new challenge this year as steadily increasing gas prices throughout the spring significantly squeezed many household budgets,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “Americans will still travel during the Memorial Day holiday weekend but, many will compensate for reduced travel budgets by staying closer to home and cutting entertainment dollars.”

Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said recent increases in gasoline prices would not impact their Memorial Day holiday travel plans. Of the remaining 47 percent of travelers who said gas prices would affect their plans, nine percent are planning to take a shorter trip, four percent will travel by an alternate mode of transportation and 34 percent will economize in other areas.

Those who will cut costs plan to reduce spending on entertainment (65 percent), stay at a lower-priced hotel (34 percent), stay with friends and relatives instead of reserving a hotel room (31 percent) or stay in a hotel that includes value-added amenities like free breakfast and Internet (27 percent).

According to the survey of traveler intentions, the average distance traveled by Americans during the Memorial Day holiday weekend is expected to be 642 miles, which is 150 miles less than last year’s average travel distance of 792 miles. Gas prices are said to be a factor.