The May long weekend typically sees increased highway traffic of all kinds, as more Albertans head out camping, and trailers and motorcycles hit the pavement for the first time of the year. Unfortunately, more drivers on the road also means more traffic violations.

Corporal Troy Savinkoff with the Cochrane RCMP says that as always, the RCMP will amp up their presence over the long weekend.

"We've always had an increase in collisions and traffic on all long weekends, the May long weekend is typically the first big one of the year," says Savinkoff. "People going out to into the parks, going into Waiparous and Mclean Creek. You'll see a marked increase in our presence out in those areas as well as the highways, trying to maintain safety." 

Savinkoff says that the May long weekend is a popular time of year for people to break out their ATVs, and he says that RCMP will have an extra presence in frequented ATV locations.

"You're going to see an increase in quad patrols, off-highway vehicles and we'll be enforcing those acts in rural areas," explains Savinkoff.

He says that impaired driving continues to be the number one concern for the RCMP.

"It's shocking how many fatal collisions have that impaired driving aspect to it," says Savinkoff. "If we can eliminate that it would certainly have a huge effect on the number of serious collisions we receive."

Savinkoff stresses the importance of all motorists doing their part to keep the roads safe for everyone, and he strongly advises drivers to adjust accordingly for the weather conditions.