Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Troopers and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Officers are urging drivers across Northwest Georgia to slow down and drive smart during the heavy-traffic Christmas and New Year’s travel windows, with high-visibility patrols planned statewide on interstates and state routes to help reduce crashes and fatalities. Georgia DPS has used these holiday periods for focused enforcement on unsafe behaviors like impaired driving, speeding, seatbelt violations, and distracted driving.

Holiday travel enforcement windows (each 102 hours):

• Christmas travel period: Starts Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 6:00 p.m. and ends Sunday, Dec. 28 at 11:59 p.m.

• New Year’s travel period: Starts Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 6:00 p.m. and ends Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

DPS leadership says enforcement will focus on the dangerous choices that most often turn a holiday trip into a tragedy—especially impaired driving—and encourages motorists to plan ahead if celebrations include alcohol by lining up a designated driver, rideshare, taxi, or a trusted friend/family member.

The warning comes as travel demand surges nationwide. AAA projects 109.5 million Americans will travel by car for year-end trips, part of a record-setting overall holiday travel forecast.