You Need to Know How to Stay Safe This Weekend

Holiday weekends lend themselves to a lot of fun—and sometimes, some not-so-safe situations.

Who knows those situations better than anyone in town?  The Hillsborough Police—they're on the scene at any emergency and know exactly what safety concerns to remember during a holiday weekend.

Of course, Chief Paul Kaminsky and his department obliged when we asked for five things people should remember going into Memorial Day weekend.

So, instead of the normal Take Five, here's the Hillsborough Police Department need-to-know for a safe weekend:

1. Officers will be out promoting a yearly statewide enforcement program called Click it or Ticket.  The goal of the program to ensure occupants of vehicle are complying with the state seat belt laws as this ensures their safety.
2. Due to this weekend being the unofficial kick off for the summer, officers will be participating in proactive patrol for intoxicated drivers.  Intoxicated drivers cause numerous deaths each year, so please drink responsibly and always have a designated driver.
3. Driving while tired also accounts for numerous crashes each year.  With the long holiday weekend, please ensure you are well rested before making any long distance trips.
4. Please remember to use hands free devices if you find it necessary to talk to someone on your cellular phone while driving.  Distracted driving is dangerous driving.
5. Remember to leave the use of fireworks to the professionals.  Fireworks are very dangerous as well as illegal.  Many careless injuries are caused by personal use of fireworks.