KRWG News – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department is offering safety tips to the thousands of people walking to Chimayo on the annual Good Friday pilgrimage as well as for motorists using the same roads.
Many of the pilgrims take heavily traveled roads, including N.M. 502 and 503 and U.S. 84-285.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia stepped up traffic patrols Thursday and says they'll continue through Easter Sunday.
The sheriff says deputies began handing out 2,000 glow-in-the-dark sticks to walkers Thursday evening at various intersections.
The glow sticks make walkers more visible to motorists at night.
Garcia also suggests pilgrims put reflective tape on their clothing or wear reflective safety vests.
He's asking drivers to reduce their speed and drive as far away from the shoulder as possible.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG