As we enter Memorial Day weekend in central Iowa, Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard reminds holiday revelers to exercise caution during their celebrations.

Leonard points out that traffic on the roads will multiply exponentially during the weekend, which can create a multitude of safety risks. He reminds people to be mindful of motorists pulling campers or boats behind them, as those tend to be slower moving vehicles. He also asks people to watch out for bicyclists, especially near intersections with the County’s many bike trails. Leonard adds, a growing problem during the summer holidays is people not being careful while out on waterways.

“Every year, it seems like we’re doing a lot more water rescue stuff on our rivers. We’re getting a lot of people in the kayaks and canoes and tubes and stuff, and we’re doing a lot of water rescues. So just prepare yourself for what you’re about to do, and be smart about it. We do get a lot of people hung up every year in all those trees and stuff that are across the river, and (we) get a lot of debris out there and it will cause you issues as you’re going down the river. So we’re just asking people to be smart about what you’re doing this holiday weekend.”

Leonard emphasizes that people also need to be careful about their alcohol consumption, as operating a vehicle of any kind under the influence is dangerous, whether it’s on land or water. To learn more about Memorial Day safety, listen to Wednesday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.