AUGUSTA — With traffic deaths in Maine about to reach 100 for the year, the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is reminding drivers to be extra cautious during the Labor Day Weekend. 99 people have died on Maine roads so far this year, including 21 highway deaths during August.

Bureau Director Lauren Stewart said the August death toll is a 57 per cent increase over the highway deaths during August of 2016, where 12 people lost their lives that month.

Stewart said the two common factors for this year's August fatalities are male drivers in the young 40s and vehicles veering off the road. Stewart said 58 Maine law enforcement agencies, including State Police, have been participating in an impaired driver enforcement effort during August and many of those agencies will have additional patrols out during the holiday weekend.

Last year during the Labor Day weekend, five people lost their lives in Maine traffic crashes.