The Missouri State Highway Patrol plans to put all available troopers on roadways and waterways for Labor Day weekend.
Sgt. Justin Dunn of Troop B said Friday the patrol is in Operation C.A.R.E., Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort, from 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, through midnight Monday, Sept. 7. Troopers will enforce speed limit, seat belt, and impaired driving laws and assist motorists, according to an Aug. 31 patrol release.
Troop B covers Macon County and 15 other Northeast Missouri counties.
In Missouri, six people died and 423 were injured in 931 traffic crashes over the 2025 Labor Day holiday, Dunn said. Troopers arrested 104 people for driving while intoxicated during that weekend, he said.
Statewide traffic fatalities stand at 553 so far this year, down about 7% from 599 at this time last year, Dunn said. He said he did not have numbers specific to Troop B.
There were nine boating crashes in 2025 with six injuries and no fatalities. One person drowned. Troopers arrested nine people for boating while intoxicated.
Col. Michael A. Turner, the patrol superintendent, encouraged everyone to plan for a safe 2026 Labor Day weekend.
The Patrol encourages people to always wear a seat belt when traveling in a vehicle, and wear a life jacket when near, on, or in the water. If a celebration includes intoxicating substances, designate someone else to drive on the road or the water.
Motorists can dial *55 on a cell phone or 800-525-5555 to reach the patrol, and should dial 911 in an emergency, Dunn said. Those patrol numbers work for highway and water emergencies; but they can also be used for reporting traffic crashes, intoxicated or drugged drivers, reckless driving, vehicle problems, hazardous material spills, and criminal activity.
The Missouri Department of Transportation asks drivers to buckle up, put the phone down, slow down, and move over in work zones, according to its Northeast District planned-roadwork notice for Aug. 31 through Sept. 11. That notice lists no Macon County projects. Drivers can check closures and delays on MoDOT's Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org/map.
Oversized and overweight loads are restricted on Missouri highways during the Labor Day period from Sept. 4 through Sept. 8, according to MoDOT's Motor Carrier Services page. Restriction periods begin at noon and end 30 minutes before sunrise.