Safe Family Travel

More than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies will step up seat belt and impaired driving patrols in an effort to prevent senseless injuries and fatalities from occurring on Indiana’s roadways this Thanksgiving holiday season.

The statewide Safe Family Travel enforcement blitz will be conducted Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 29. The effort will consist of Indiana law enforcement officers working thousands of overtime hours, day and night, to ensure that motorists travel safely on the state’s roadways.

“Thanksgiving is a time of celebration, and many Hoosiers will take to the roadway to mark the holiday with family and friends,” said Moore. Our state’s law enforcement officers are committed to making sure that these families reach their destinations safely,” he continued.

Although more people are using seat belts than ever before, far too many people still aren’t buckling up. Consequently, motorists are paying the ultimate price. During the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday period, 15 people were killed in Indiana traffic crashes. More than 66 percent of those deaths were alcohol related. In more than 60 percent of the fatal collisions that occurred around Thanksgiving that year, the person killed was not wearing their safety belt.

Studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have consistently shown that wearing a seat belt increases one’s chances of surviving a crash by more than 60 percent.

“Motorists should also remember to avoid distracted driving and be aware of rapidly changing road and weather conditions that can quickly turn adverse this time of year,” Moore added. “Indiana is taking a proactive approach towards improving traffic safety. The goal is never to write tickets, but to save lives through high-visibility enforcement.”

Holiday Travel Safety Tips

Get plenty of rest before setting out on a long trip - Observe and obey all speed limits - Allow plenty of time to reach your holiday travel destinations - Don’t drink and drive - Avoid using the cell phone to text or talk while driving – Be sure to BUCKLE UP – When you see an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the roadway, remember to MOVE OVER or SLOW DOWN.

Safe Family Travel” is a statewide enforcement effort that is funded with federal dollars awarded to Indiana from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The effort encompasses seat belt and impaired driving initiatives.