LANSING — The Labor Day holiday weekend is one of the deadliest travel periods of the year. The Michigan State Police (MSP) is reminding motorists to be responsible and make safe driving decisions.

MSP troopers will join their counterparts from across the country in the international traffic safety initiative, Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness and Reduction Efforts). In conjunction with Operation C.A.R.E., troopers across the state, along with approximately 150 other law enforcement agencies in Michigan, will be participating in the national safety campaign ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.’

“Driving drunk or drugged is unacceptable,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP. “Crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs can be prevented. Troopers will be on patrol and watching. Wear a seatbelt and put your phone down. Let’s all do our part to make sure everyone on the road has a safe holiday weekend.”

The official Labor Day weekend begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 31, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3. Last year, 10 fatal traffic crashes resulted in 15 deaths during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

The MSP is reminding motorists that the Mackinac Bridge will be closed again to vehicular traffic starting at 6:30 a.m. and lasting until noon on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3. As a result, northbound I-75 at exit 337 on the south end of the bridge and southbound US-2 and I-75 at exit 344 in the Upper Peninsula will close during that time as well. Troopers will be at various traffic points to monitor and assist motorists as much as possible.

Operation C.A.R.E. began in 1977 as a collaborative effort between the MSP and the Indiana State Police, and is one of the nation’s longest-running traffic safety initiatives. It focuses on deterring the three main causes of highway fatalities: aggressive driving, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints.