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Memorial Day always creates a busy atmosphere on the roadways throughout the state of Alabama, and that is set to be the case again this year as the pandemic regulations adapt and loosen.

According to a press release, the Alabama Department of Transportation is doing its part for road safety by having no temporary construction-related lane closures on Alabama interstates from noon on May 22 through 11:59 p.m. on May 25.

“Now is the perfect time for drivers to commit to safe driving,” Drive Safe Alabama Coordinator Allison Green said. “The number of vehicles on the road is increasing each day with the start of summer travel and the opening up of more businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Safe roads start with safe drivers.”

ALDOT advised that although construction will not be taking place during the Memorial Day weekend, the posted reduced speed limits should still be followed because the work zone materials will still be at the construction sites and could lead to an accident if drivers are not alert to their surroundings behind the wheel.

To help ensure the safest travel, ALDOT asks all travelers to buckle up, slow down and keep right, except to pass.

Alabama’s seat belt law requires that all front-seat occupants, regardless of age, should be in a proper safety restraint.

According to the Drive Safe Alabama website, Alabama vehicle crash figures from 2018 showed that roughly 56% fatalities were not wearing a seat belt.

Although the remaining 44% fatalities were wearing seat belts, the percentage of getting injured while wearing a seatbelt is overwhelmingly greater than if not wearing one.

Of those involved in crashes during 2018, 97.6% of people wearing a seat belt had no harm, as opposed to the 2.4% of people not wearing a seat belt that were able to escape with no harm.

Restrooms at ALDOT rest areas will be open for travelers throughout the state during the holiday weekend.