Safe holiday travel is no accident

With Thanksgiving upon us, Americans are in the midst of one of the busiest travel weeks of the year for roads, rails and runways. Here at DOT we want everyone to enjoy their travels safely, no matter how you're getting to your destination.

That means taking an active role in safety. We operate the safest transportation system in the world, but safety doesn't just happen: we can all take some simple steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones this holiday season.

So for air travelers, I'm asking every passenger to take just a few minutes to follow the Federal Aviation Administration's safety tips and--most importantly--pay attention to your flight and cabin crew.

You can make your flight even safer by following these guidelines:

• Pay attention to the flight attendant safety briefing at the beginning of your flight and read the safety briefing card.
• Buckle up. Keep yourself and your family safe by wearing a seat belt at all times while seated.
• Use an approved child safety seat or device if your child weighs less than 40 pounds.
• Prevent in-flight injuries by following your airline’s carry-on bag restrictions.

You can find child safety information and the latest on airport status and delays at www.faa.gov/passengers.

Our Aviation Consumer Protection office also reminds you that you should expect fares and fees as advertised when you booked your ticket. Visit www.dot.gov/airconsumer to learn about your rights as a flier and what you can do if you encounter unexpected events such as flight delays, overbooking, or mishandled baggage. For a range of flying tips from booking to boarding, please read Plane Talk from our air consumer team.

If you're making your way by bus this season, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Bus Passenger website to help make your trip a safe one. FMCSA offers its SaferBus online or mobile app so you can check the safety record of your carrier before boarding your bus.

For the millions of motorists hitting our nation's highways this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asks you to use a child safety seat that is carefully installed and sized to fit your child. The folks at NHTSA also remind you that seat belts save lives, so---please--buckle up...every trip, every time.

And as you're out and about this week and throughout the holidays, please remember that it is simply not okay to drink and drive.

Finally, I want to personally ask drivers to keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your attention on safe driving by turning your electronic devices off before turning the ignition on.  Distracted driving poses a risk to everyone who uses our roadways, so let's make a special safety effort this season.

Again, we here at DOT wish you and your loved ones a very safe Thanksgiving.

Your family is expecting you. Please buckle up.

Comments

[Shintaku]

Howdy! Very helpful advice on this article! It's little adjustments that make the most significant changes. Appreciate it for sharing!

[John Denny]

When we travel anywhere first of all safety is most important for our precious life. And you also described here about it, I totally agree with you.Thanks for sharing this post!