As Memorial Day travel season begins across Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety is ramping up enforcement efforts statewide with a strong focus on saving lives and preventing crashes on Texas highways.
Beginning May 11 and continuing through May 25, the Texas Highway Patrol will increase patrols as part of the annual All-American Enforcement Campaign. The initiative is designed to encourage safer driving habits during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with troopers focusing heavily on seat belt enforcement, distracted driving, speeding, and other dangerous driving behaviors.
Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee said the message is simple but important: wearing a seat belt can make the difference between life and death.
“Seat belts save lives—it’s that simple,” Rippee said. “Buckling up is one of the easiest decisions you can make to protect yourself and your loved ones every time you get on the road.”
The campaign is part of Operation CARE — Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort — a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing traffic fatalities during major travel holidays. During last year’s Memorial Day enforcement campaign in 2025, DPS troopers issued more than 156,000 citations and warnings across the state. That included nearly 10,000 speeding violations, hundreds of seat belt violations, thousands of uninsured motorist citations, and more than 900 felony and fugitive arrests.
DPS officials say one of the biggest concerns in 2026 continues to be drivers failing to obey Texas’ Move Over or Slow Down law. So far this year, troopers have recorded nearly 7,000 violations statewide.
Under Texas law, drivers are required to either move over a lane — when safe to do so — or slow down significantly when approaching emergency vehicles, TxDOT crews, tow trucks, fire departments, EMS personnel, or law enforcement vehicles stopped on the side of the road with flashing lights activated.
On roads with multiple lanes traveling in the same direction, drivers must vacate the lane closest to the stopped vehicle. If changing lanes is not possible, motorists must slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. If the speed limit is under 25 mph, drivers must slow to 5 mph.
Violating the law can result in fines up to $1,250, with harsher penalties possible for repeat offenses or incidents involving injury.
As holiday travel increases, DPS is also reminding Texans to avoid distractions behind the wheel, especially mobile device use. State law prohibits drivers from reading, writing, or sending electronic messages while driving unless the vehicle is stopped. Officials also encourage motorists to avoid impaired driving, slow down in construction zones or heavy traffic, and always drive defensively.
DPS is urging Texans to plan ahead before hitting the road this Memorial Day season and remember that safe driving decisions protect not only themselves, but everyone traveling Texas highways.
