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RCMP warn drivers to be extra careful heading into the May long weekend

Click to play video: 'RCMP warn drivers to be extra careful heading into the May long weekend'
RCMP warn drivers to be extra careful heading into the May long weekend
WATCH ABOVE: The Victoria Day long weekend is usually the first weekend of the year where Albertans hit the highways in huge volume, heading out to camp, visit or just get out and about. As Quinn Campbell reports RCMP are asking all drivers to be extra diligent as they head into the long weekend hustle and bustle – May 19, 2016

Staff at Park Lake Provincial Park say rain or shine, the campground will be full for the Victoria Day long weekend.

Cars, trucks, RV’s and holiday trailers will be taking to the highways to campgrounds across the province. Staff Sgt. Glenn Henry says people need to slow down and think ahead when it comes to planning for the weekend.

“Spend a little extra time preparing, leave a little early, get there safe, get there rested,” he cautioned.

Already there’s been a very timely reminder of how dangerous the roads can be. A holiday trailer was involved in a serious collision near Red Deer Thursday morning. Luckily  nobody was seriously injured.

WATCH: Crash near Red Deer shuts down QEII 
Click to play video: 'Crash near Red Deer shuts down QEII'
Crash near Red Deer shuts down QEII

Staff Sgt. Henry says a very noticeable spike in traffic occurs on Alberta roadways over the long weekend.

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“We will have an increased amount of traffic on the road, slower moving vehicles on the road, people driving motor homes or trailers or pulling boats, they aren’t the same as a small passenger car so we have to be aware of that and be smart when we drive, leave distance when you’re following people, don’t speed.”

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Dale Lockyer is enjoying a maiden voyage with his new holiday trailer at Park Lake, trying to avoiding the highway chaos all together.

“I like to take the extra day on the end, so when everyone else is coming back Monday, I’ll stay and come back Tuesday, if I can do that, especially some of those two way roads, they get a little hairy.”

Already this month people have died on Alberta highways, and RCMP fear that number could go up as we head into the long weekend. Last year on the Victoria Day holiday four people were killed in vehicle collisions.

“These things don’t have to happen, a lot of our collisions are avoidable.”

The RCMP say they will be out in full force, reminding drivers to follow the rules of the road.

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