Texas law enforcement is ramping up its presence on the roads this Labor Day weekend in a push to curb traffic fatalities during one of the year’s deadliest travel periods.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) launched Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (CARE) running Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, with troopers targeting speeding, intoxicated driving, and violations of the state’s Move Over, Slow Down law, which requires drivers to change lanes or reduce speed when approaching emergency vehicles with active lights on the roadside. The enforcement blitz comes as part of the agency’s broader “90 Days of Safety” campaign commemorating DPS’s 90th anniversary.
“Each year, too many lives are lost on Texas roads because of people’s poor decisions,” said Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee. “The decision to drink and drive, the decision not to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles stopped and working along the side of the road, the decision to drive way too fast. We all make decisions that can make our communities safer – and that’s why enforcement efforts like this one – and really this entire 90 Days of Safety campaign – are so important, to help remind people to make safer decisions when they are driving, so we all make it home safely,” Rippee stated.
Previous Enforcement Results
Last year’s Labor Day enforcement push yielded over 53,600 citations and warnings, including 4,599 for speeding and 1,404 for driving without insurance. Troopers also arrested 199 people for DWI and 187 for other felony offenses during the holiday weekend operation.
Think those numbers sound high? They represent just one weekend in a state that’s struggled with traffic safety. So far in 2025, more than 9,600 drivers have already been cited for failing to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles — a troubling trend that puts first responders at risk.
DPS Director Steven McCraw emphasized the need for caution during the holiday. “Too often, these long holiday weekends mean problems on the roads,” McCraw explained. “Instead, as we mark the end of summer, let’s keep safety our top priority by following traffic laws and ensuring everyone has a sober ride home. By planning and thinking ahead, we can ensure everyone enjoys the long holiday weekend safely.”
Multi-Agency Approach
The statewide effort extends beyond DPS. Local law enforcement agencies, including the Lakeway Police Department, have received support through TxDOT’s Impaired Driving Mobilization Grant. The funding allows for additional officer deployment from August 15 through September 1, with a particular focus on arresting impaired drivers.
These enhanced enforcement programs have “consistently proven to reduce injuries, fatalities and property damage along major thoroughfares and high-collision/high-density intersections,” according to officials.
For drivers planning to hit the road this holiday, DPS has issued several safety recommendations: never drink and drive, always use seat belts, avoid distractions like mobile phones, slow down in bad weather, and use the left lane only for passing. The department also reminds motorists to move vehicles involved in non-injury crashes out of traffic lanes and to keep the roadside assistance number (1-800-525-5555) handy.
Beyond Traffic Safety
With large gatherings common during the holiday weekend, DPS is also highlighting its iWatchTexas program, a confidential reporting tool for suspicious activities. The system, accessible via website, mobile app, or phone, allows citizens to report potential threats — a capability that becomes especially important during community events. All reports are confidential.
As Texans prepare for the final summer holiday, the message from law enforcement is clear: the decisions made behind the wheel this weekend could be life-altering — not just for drivers, but for everyone sharing the road.
