The Thanksgiving long weekend means increased traffic in and around Calgary and police and traffic patrols will be out in full force cracking down on anyone breaking the rules of the road.

More than 400 people are killed in crashes on Alberta roads each year.

"We've identified long weekends not only being high volume but also a higher risk for the motoring public," said Sheriff Jason Graw with Airdrie's Integrated Traffic Unit.

"There tends to be more serious, fatal injury crashes on the long weekends."

Officials will be looking out for drunk drivers, speeders and people not wearing their seatbelts.

Cracking down on unbuckled drivers and passengers will also be a priority for all of October.

Graw says a lot of people still drive without a seatbelt.

"We still see people that choose not to wear their belt for whatever reason, whether it's just a short trip, or they feel it's uncomfortable," he said.

Statistics show victims of car crashes in Alberta are one-third more likely to escape injury if they are wearing a seatbelt.