With Canada Day on Friday that means there will be many busy Alberta roads this long weekend.

Once again the RCMP are reminding all motorists to be safe when behind the wheel.

Okotoks Staff Sgt Jim Ross says the message is clear.

"We will have officers out on the roads and highways," he says. "We're asking people to drive according to the rules of the road and obviously the drinking and driving message we want to have out there, have a designated driver if you are going to have a few drinks."

More accidents tend to happen on long weekends due to the obvious influx of traffic and Ross says it doesn't hurt to be a little more defensive than aggressive when driving.

"Give a little bit of room between the vehicle in front of you to make sure that if the need arises you have an appropriate amount of time to react. Speed is also a main issue that we have and this is why it's so important to follow the designated speed signs that are posted."

Ross says the message is usually the same every long weekend but something you have to sound like a broken record to get it through to those on the road.

"It's kind of the same messaging all the time, just making sure drivers are driving according to the rules of the road, have a designated driver, we are having officers out paying attention to those drivers that don't want to oblige by the rules. We want everybody to get to their destinations and back safely."

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