Oklahoma Highway Patrol Promotes Safety Over Memorial Day Weekend

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Many of us will be hitting the road for the Memorial Day holiday and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol wants everyone to stay safe. Eleven people were killed on state highways during last year's holiday weekend. Troopers are putting drivers on alert, drive responsibly and know your options while on the road.

On Thursday, Hayden Walker, 54, was changing a tire on his daughter's car on the shoulder along I-44.

Two southbound cars collided, and one of them went off the road striking the car Walker was working on, killing him.

The Highway Patrol said changing a tire along the highway is inherently dangerous, so drivers need to weigh their options.

"Do you have to change the tire right now? Or can you wait an hour or two hours until rush hour is over? Or are there other things going on in the environment that you need to weigh your decision on?" said OHP Capt. Chris West.

This weekend the OHP and other law enforcement agencies will be out in force. They'll be looking for seatbelt violators, speeders and people driving under the influence. Those three areas have been points of emphasis for years, and the OHP thinks overall it's paying off.

"Last year from January 1 up until this holiday, we had 263 fatalities. Right now we're looking at 175," Capt. West said.

Studies show that drivers can reduce the likelihood of being killed in an accident by 80 percent by wearing a seatbelt. That's the best way to reduce holiday deaths down to the number the OHP wants--zero.

The Highway Patrol said it will assist on roadside tire changes or any sort of vehicle breakdown, just call star 55 on your cell phone.