That said, troopers will be out observing for impaired drivers, as well as aggressive drivers and driving behavior that poses a risk to other motorists. If you see a driver that you believe may be impaired, call 911 and be prepared to give your location, vehicle description, and the driving behavior that you observed. Create distance between you and the suspected impaired driver if at all possible.
CLICK IT OR TICKET
It’s a fact: seatbelts save lives. But a large number of passenger vehicle occupants killed during the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday weekend weren’t wearing their seatbelts — especially at night.
- 291 passenger vehicle occupants were killed
- 54% of those killed at night were unbuckled
- 42% of those killed during the day were unbuckled
NHTSA’s Click It or Ticket national seatbelt enforcement mobilization, which runs November 16-29, reminds everyone that seatbelts save lives.
BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING AND IF YOU FEEL DIFFERENT, YOU DRIVE DIFFERENT
During the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, nearly one in three traffic fatalities involved a drunk driver. It’s important to understand even a small amount of alcohol can affect a person quickly. For example, someone with a blood alcohol concentration of .02 can have some loss of judgment. Drugs can also impact how a person drives. In fact, it’s been proven that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychoactive effects — slows reaction time, impairs cognitive performance, and makes it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
BOYCOTT BLACKOUT WEDNESDAY AND DITCH DANKSGIVING
Recent cultural trends during the Thanksgiving holiday, “Blackout Wednesday” and “Danksgiving,” promote heavy consumption of alcohol and marijuana throughout the long holiday weekend. This year, NHTSA and its partners are taking to social media with #BoycottBlackoutWednesday and #DitchDanksgiving to discourage driving drunk or high.
By driving sober, buckling up every time, and making sure your passengers do the same, you can help ensure that you and your loved ones arrive to your holiday destination safe and sound.
