Traveling over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house this holiday season? You are not alone. About 43.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more on Thanksgiving in 2012, according to estimates from AAA, and 90 percent of them will travel by car.

 

Data show that traffic fatalities seem to be increasing for the first time in six years, according to Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). And the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's typically are some of the deadliest on roadways in Georgia and around the U.S.

 

"Our message to all Georgians is a plea to slow down and use caution on our roads during this busy season," Blackwood said.

 

Here are a few ways Georgians can stay safe during holiday travel:

 

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Before you leave home, familiarize yourself with the route you'll take, and be prepared to change plans if weather or traffic closes a road. The time of day you choose for traveling is also an important part of staying safe. The GOHS reports that most fatal crashes occur between Saturday night at 9 p.m. and Sunday morning at 5 a.m., a time when drunk driving, speeding and driving without a seat belt all increase, according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Let your family or friends know which route you're taking and when you plan to arrive.

 

BE READY FOR ANYTHING: Be sure your car is ready for a safe journey by checking things like tires, air bags, brakes, wipers, and fluid levels in advance.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency also recommends carrying an emergency kit, including supplies such as water, food, flashlights, a first aid kit, medicines, extra clothing and a cell phone charger. Speaking of cell phones, it's always good to have one handy in case of an emergency. But of course, drivers should limit calls and never text while on the road.

 

SEAT BELTS, YES; DRINKING, NO: You've heard it a million times, but the message is simple and important: always wear a seat belt and never drink and drive. According to the NHTSA, 64 percent of people killed in crashes during the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday were not wearing seat belts. The GOHS has cracked down on unbelted drivers with the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, and highway officials will continue it during the Thanksgiving holiday this year.

 

"Seatbelts have saved more lives than any other single piece of automotive safety equipment," Blackwood said. "But in order for them to work, they have to be used and they have to be used correctly."

 

With ongoing holiday festivities, alcohol-impaired driving is also a danger. During December 2010, 30 percent of the nearly 2,600 people killed in crashes involved an alcohol-impaired driver. The GOHS said if Georgians plan to drink alcohol, they should plan a sober way home before the festivities begin. Highway officials will be targeting impaired drivers throughout December with its "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. Blackwood noted that driving while sleepy is just as dangerous as driving drunk.

 

"If you must drive late in the day, make sure you are adequately alert behind the wheel," he said.
 

-Story by DPH Communications