State Officials Remind Drivers To Be Safe Over Thanksgiving Holiday

Officials from several state agencies gathered last week to remind drivers to wear their seat belts, drive sober, and eliminate distractions behind the wheel as they prepare to take to the road for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Speaking from the PennDOT Regional Traffic Management Center at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) in Harrisburg, officials said Operation Safe Holiday kicks off on Monday with the “Click It or Ticket” Thanksgiving enforcement mobilization running through December 8.

“We can all do our part to avoid crashes by always wearing a seat belt, designating a sober driver, and never driving distracted,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards. “We want everyone to arrive at their holiday destinations safely, but when crashes do happen, PennDOT and first responders will work quickly to help the motorists involved and keep traffic moving.”

Operation Safe Holiday will involve law enforcement conducting sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and regular traffic safety patrols beginning on Thanksgiving Eve through the New Year’s holiday to crack down on drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Pennsylvania State Police Deputy Commissioner Lt. Colonel Scott Price encouraged parents to make sure child safety seats at installed correctly. Troopers are offering installation clinics throughout the state over the next month.

“Troopers would rather assist a parent with a child safety seat installation at one of our clinics than issue a citation for not using one; or worse, respond to a crash involving an injured child who was in an improperly installed car seat,” he said.

According to PennDOT, children under age 4 must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children under 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat until the child outgrows the maximum weight and height limits designated by the manufacturer. Booster seats are required for children ages 4 to 8 to keep them protected in the event of a crash.

PennDOT said that during last year’s Thanksgiving travel period, there were 2,546 crashes with 18 deaths reported across the state.

“With traffic volumes at their heaviest and travelers happily thinking about holiday visiting, it’s critical to focus on safety and keep it top of mind,” said Pennsylvania Turnpike Chief Operating Officer Craig Shuey. “In addition to significantly higher traffic volumes, drivers may be more distracted. Also, the deer population is on the move this time of year, so vigilance is very important. Go carefully, plan ahead so you can take your time and stop at regular intervals for a break.”

The state police seat belt and DUI enforcement efforts are funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.