Motorists heading out for the 4th of July holiday can expect a major police presence on area roadways.

This year, however, they can also expect increased law enforcement presence on waterways as well.

Trooper Billy Elder of the South Carolina Highway Patrol said troopers are teaming up this year with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in a combined effort aimed at reducing not only roadway fatalities but boating accidents as well.

For those who have no plans to head out onto the water, though, Elder said police want to give fair warning that they’ll be looking for speeders, those who fail to wear seat belts, and especially for drunk drivers.

Of the 375 people who had been killed as of Thursday on South Carolina’s roadways in 2010, Elder said more than 170 of them had access to seat belts but chose not to wear them.

So far this year, six people have died on Cherokee County roadways and local troopers have investigated more than 500 crashes — a number that does not include crashes investigated by the Gaffney Police Department and Blacksburg Police Department.

Elder said troopers will be partnering with local law enforcement to reduce speeding and drunk driving for a simple mission. “Our goal is to end the weekend without a fatality,” Elder said. “But we’re going to need everyone’s cooperation.”

Gaffney Police Capt. Mike Segina said extra officers will be on duty in the city and will be keeping watch to make sure city ordinances on fireworks are also followed.