(ANGOLA) - As Memorial Day weekend begins, Steuben County Sheriff Rodney Robinson is encouraging residents and visitors to use patience and prioritize safety as activity increases across the county.
Robinson said Memorial Day weekend serves as the unofficial kickoff to the area's busy summer season, bringing increased traffic on roads and waterways, along with larger crowds at restaurants, events and attractions.
"This is the kickoff for our area," Robinson said during an interview on WLKI. "We are so unique in a way that not just only are we looking at visitors for the lakes, but this really starts and ramps up everything in our community."
Robinson said the combination of boats, trailers, lake traffic and visiting families creates a much busier environment throughout Steuben County.
"You've got boats on trailers, pontoons going which way and the other, a lot of water traffic, families are visiting," Robinson said. "The other side of that is town is very busy. You've got restaurants that are full."
The sheriff urged residents and visitors to remain patient and considerate as crowds increase during the holiday weekend.
"It's just a friendly reminder to be cautious, use some safety and concern and think about your neighbor when you're doing some things," Robinson said.
Robinson said Steuben County experiences a level of activity during the summer months that differs from many surrounding communities because of the number of events and recreational opportunities taking place each weekend.
"We've got three festivals going every weekend," Robinson said. "We've got sandbars and car shows and so those all things intermingle and they cause a lot of issues sometimes. But if we work together, we think our way through and we realize that's going on in our community, it helps so much."
The sheriff's office is encouraging everyone to allow extra travel time, remain alert on the roads and waterways, and make safety a priority throughout the Memorial Day holiday weekend.