The Memorial Day holiday, which is set aside to honor deceased men and women from the Armed Forces, is expected to be a busy one. The holiday weekend officially begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27, and ends at midnight, Monday, May 30. North Carolina is an ideal travel destination, ranking in the top 10 most visited states for domestic travel. Nothing compares to what North Carolina has to offer – natural scenic beauty, rich history and culture, vibrant cities, quaint small towns and its central East Coast location. This means that more people will be on our highways, increasing the chance of traffic crashes. Trooper will increase patrols on all interstates and major four-lane highways during the holiday weekend with the hopes of saving lives. "As Memorial Day approaches, traffic will increase throughout North Carolina. We want to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend," said Colonel Bill Grey, Highway Patrol Commander. "Please fasten your seatbelts, obey the speed limit and don’t drink and drive. The choices you make can be difference between life and death.” Citizens may report crashes, impaired drivers, stranded motorists or other highway situations to the Highway Patrol by dialing * HP (*47) on their cellular telephones