If you plan on traveling on Interstate 81 this weekend, you may want to watch how fast you're going. State police will be patrolling in full force as part of the latest Operation Air, Land and Speed.

Motorist Robert Sheffer says, "I travel on 81 every day, so whenever I hear about something like that, I usually run pretty much the speed limit anyway, so I usually give myself enough time to get from one place to the other."

Sheffer says he's ready for Air, Land, and Speed. Traveling from Harrisonburg to Fishersville every day, he thinks the operation is a good one to keep motorists like himself safe.

State Police 1st Sgt. Scott Van Lear says, "It has been proven that visibility of a police officer makes the highways a lot safer. It makes people drive more courteously, not necessarily just obeying the law, but they just seem to be more courteous."

Van Lear says this year is a little different because of rising gas prices, which means fewer cars on the roads.

He comments, "The rush hour, so to speak, don't seem to be as heavy."

While motorists like Sheffer are cutting down on driving to save money, Van Lear says he can't cut back on any units, because it's a matter of safety.

He explains, "Police service you really can't limit. There’s a need you have to fulfill it. So no, we have not cut back the number of people we have patrolling. We have not limited them in the miles they drive."

Interstate 95 is also being patrolled this weekend as part of Operation Air, Land and Speed, which runs through Saturday.

State police say another Operation Air, Land and Speed will take place at the end of July.