Stay legal while driving during the Thanksgiving weekend
8:18 p.m. Monday, November 17, 2008
The Kansas Highway Patrol, along with other area police agencies, is going to be participating in the Kansas Thanksgiving Traffic Enforcement Campaign, held November 24-30. A grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation will enable the Patrol to have more trooper presence on streets and highways to aggressively enforce Kansas traffic laws. Troopers will be especially vigilant for impaired drivers and children, teens, and adults who are not buckled up.
Impaired drivers endanger everyone around them. In Kansas, nearly six persons every day – most of them innocent – are killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes. Not only do impaired drivers endanger others, but in the crashes that follow, drivers and passengers are over 2 ½ times more likely to be killed or injured than in a non alcohol-related crash. Almost 18,000 DUI (driving under the influence) arrests were made last year in Kansas and great efforts are being made at all levels of government to increase both the number of arrests and the number of convictions.
Failure to buckle up is also responsible for needless death and maiming. Those who do not buckle up are about 12 times more likely to be killed and almost twice as likely to suffer injury as those who do buckle up. Hidden by these statistics is the fact that injuries suffered by those who are unbuckled are likely to be much more severe and disabling than those suffered when an occupant is restrained.
According to Captain Steve Zeller, Troop B Commander, “A couple of things to keep in mind: If you are going to be drinking – any amount – don’t consider driving home; arrange to ride with a non-drinking acquaintance. Don’t let pride or convenience endanger your life and the lives of innocent others. Don’t take the chance. And always, always wear your seatbelt and make sure each person riding with you is restrained – it is your best defense, and it’s the law. By following these simple rules, you will save lives and save your cash. If we catch you breaking the law, it will cost you!”
If you're traveling, you'll have company
Millions of Americans already have travel plans to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. But for the first time in six years, the American Automobile Association expects fewer people to leave home for the holiday. "We anticipate that 41 million Americans will travel over the Thanksgiving Day holiday. That's about 13.5 percent of the U.S. population and it represents a decline, but slight decline for last year, down 1.4 percent," said the AAA's President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet." AAA says most people find a way to pay for Thanksgiving travel, even when money is tight. Those who do travel will benefit from the recent drop in gasoline prices.
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