We all know that the roads will be crowded this week; according to AAA, 42.5 million Americans will travel this week, with 9 out of every 10 of those travelers hitting the highway. As Perry Como sang in 1954's Home for the Holidays, “From Atlantic to Pacific, gee the traffic is terrific.”
And while everyone heads out to visit family and friends or pick up last-minute groceries for a holiday meal, the skies in some communities can fill with snow and roads can become icy. Snow, ice, and driver impatience can combine for dangerous driving conditions, especially when drivers are thinking about their destination and aren't fully focused on the road right in front of them.
Distraction of any kind while driving can be deadly, so the folks at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration encourage you to make sure you are paying attention while at the wheel. They also advise that you:
- TURN OFF your cell phone or give it to a passenger;
- BUCKLE your seat belt; and
- NEVER drive intoxicated
We're proud to partner with Road Safe America in recognizing Sunday, November 27 as Drive Safer Sunday.
Susan and Steve Owings founded Road Safe America in 2003 following the tragic death of their son Cullum. In 2002, Cullum was driving back to college after the Thansgiving holiday when his car was struck by a tractor-trailer.
The organization promotes and organizes Drive Safer Sunday as part of their effort to reduce crashes between heavy commercial vehicles and passenger cars. The U.S. Senate and states across the nation have formally recognized Drive Safer Sunday every year since 2003.
At DOT, safety is our number one priority, so I want to remind everyone to--please--take the steps necessary to ensure you travel with care.
We wish you and your family a safe holiday season.
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