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PARKERSBURG - As people hit the road to travel to be with family and friends for Thanksgiving law-enforcement will be out in force patrolling area roadways.
The West Virginia Parkways Authority is expecting the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday to be the busiest two travel days on the West Virginia Turnpike during the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday to Sunday.
The heaviest traffic was expected Wednesday and on Sunday, according to a news release from the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
"Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week are typically two of the busiest travel days we experience on the West Virginia Turnpike during the entire year" said Jeff Miller, executive director of the Parkways Authority.
Public Information officers from the West Virginia State Police could not be reached Wednesday.
Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said they will have a regular patrol out throughout the holiday weekend, but they will be focused on "traffic safety."
“This is the busiest time of year,'' he said.
There could be inclement weather that could hamper traffic and people need to be aware of delays due to construction zones and more.
He urges people to plan ahead a little and be aware of road conditions and for people to give themselves plenty of time to get where they are going.
“Just be prepared,'' Woodyard said.
According to insurance statistics, the Mountain State leads the nation in deer strike accidents on the state's roads.
"We live in a mountainous, rural area where wildlife is prevalent," said Joe Pack, West Virginia Division of Highways chief engineer of operations. "The more rural the area, the more likely accidents are to happen."
Between Jan. 1 and Monday 10,618 deer were hit on West Virginia highways, as well as 15 bears. Coyotes and other wild animals are also occasionally struck by cars on Mountain State roads.
Cleaning up after those accidents falls to the men and women who work in the WVDOH field offices spread throughout the state.
"We treat it just like any other road obstruction," Pack said. A deer in the middle of an interstate poses more of a threat to the public than a deer on the side of a rural road, so the WVDOH takes care of the most dangerous sites first.
But WVDOH work crews might not be aware of every single animal strike. If you see a dead deer or other animal in or near a state roadway, you can report it through the Safety With Action Today (SWAT) hotline. Call 1-833-WVROADS, email WVROADS@wv.gov, or visit https://dotforms.wv.gov/cra to file a report of an animal strike online.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be also increasing patrols throughout the region as more holiday travelers are going to be out on the roadways traveling for the busy holiday weekend.
Increased patrols began Wednesday for one of the busiest travel times of the year.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding people to buckle up this holiday season and always.
Since 2018, troopers have issued over 475,000 safety belt and child safety belt citations, a post on the OSHP's Facebook page.
During last year’s Thanksgiving reporting period, troopers made 278 OVI arrests, according to another Facebook post.
AAA is predicting record travel for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period. Motorists should leave early and allow plenty of time for travel, according to a press release from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
AAA is advising people to check relevant postings for traffic delays, construction work zones that can impact traffic and more.