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MACON, MO -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol is going to be very busy this holiday weekend. It has already put in place a few traffic safety programs.

The programs are an effort to reduce accidents and ensure safe driving during your holiday travels.

Sergeant Brent Bernhardt gives tips on how to stay safe on the road.

"There's several things drivers can do," Bernhardt said. "Number one, making sure that their vehicle is in good mechanical condition before they leave on any type of trip. Secondly, as a driver we need to be prepared to recognize we need to be fully rested and that we need to be focus on the main task at hand, which is to operate your motor vehicle safely."

Bernhardt urges everyone to make sure all passengers in the car are wearing a seat belt.

He says of all the fatalities in Missouri last year, 63 percent of those who died, were not wearing seat belts.