AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The Amarillo Police Department is stepping up its patrols during this holiday season.
AAA Texas predicted more than 3 million Texans would travel over the holiday. Police said the added travel means an increase in traffic accidents and fatalities.
Thanks to a grant the police department received from the Texas Department of Transportation, extra officers were funded to increase patrol and concentrate on impaired drivers, speeding violations and seat belt and child restraint violations.
Police said the extra officers should be visible to the public.
"Enforcement will be strict in an effort to make this a safe holiday," police said.
So far in 2012, police said 27 people have died from traffic collisions from 22 separate collisions.
Police said 45 percent of those fatalities were a result of impaired drivers and 59 percent involved speeding.
Just two people who were killed in the crashes were not wearing seat belts, police said.
Six of the fatal crashes were on motorcycles. Five of those people were not wearing helmets.
Police remind residents to wear seat belts, observe speed limits and do not drink and drive.
