As we are all aware, the day before Thanksgiving through the end of the long weekend that follows is one of the busiest and most precarious times of the year on our nation’s roadways. More than 33 million of us across the country traveled 50 miles or more to visit friends and family for Thanksgiving this year, 91% of us having traveled by automobile.

As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008, 502 people in the U.S. lost their lives in car accidents on Thanksgiving Day alone. To put that statistic in perspective, 102 people are killed in fatal car accidents nationwide on a typical day. Last year’s (2008) traffic fatalities were down substantially as compared to the yearly average over the last 26 years. Some attribute that drop to high gas prices keeping people off of the roads and expect to see a rise again once the traffic accident deaths are calculated for 2009. Others attribute that drop in fatalities to better education in the areas of the seat belt usage, the dangers driving under the influence (DUI), and the importance of driving defensively and remaining alert.

Locally, State Police records show that over the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday (Wednesday – Sunday), 321 individuals were injured in Pennsylvania car accidents, with 10 fatalities. State Police report that this year (2009), 300 people were injured in Pennsylvania car accidents, with only 3 resulting deaths.

Though the number of PA car accidents was down this year, PA State Troopers issued 27% more speeding tickets and 28% more tickets for failure to wear seatbelts than they did last year.

PA State Police also saw a decrease this year in the number of those they arrested for DUI (driving under the influence) as compared to last year. In 2008, 416 Pennsylvania drivers were arrested for DUI; this year 359 Pennsylvania DUI arrests were made.

This news is good! We are now in the official “holiday season”, however, let’s not get sloppy. The holiday season brings high volumes of traffic on the roads, especially around shopping malls, distracted or impaired motorists at the wheel, and inexperienced drivers on our roadways. Those operating vehicles are encouraged get ample rest and remain alert and defensive at all times. Most importantly, we remind you not to drive after you have been drinking.

With all of these safety measures in mind, PennDOT re-launched its Operation Safe Holiday program just before Thanksgiving, which will remain in effect until the end of New Year’s weekend. Operation Safe Holiday functions with the coordinated effort of the State Police and numerous municipal police departments throughout the Commonwealth. They put in place DUI sobriety checkpoints and a variety of safety patrols in order to identify those drivers who are impaired, driving aggressively, and/or not wearing seatbelts.

PennDOT asks those who will be on the road throughout the holiday season to buckle up, refrain from aggressive driving and DUI, and, finally, resist the urge to operate your cell phone (for texting or talking) while driving. Of course, this should be the standard for all times of the year, but we stress the importance of doing your part to help keep families safe and alive during this festive time.