Just because Thanksgiving has passed doesn't mean police will be relaxing their highway patrols.
Thanksgiving is the most dangerous holiday of the year for motorists, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This includes the enetire four-day holiday driving period when heavy traffic, weather and long-distance road trips combine to create severe travel conditions. Often, family celebrations include alcohol, which later evolves into impaired driving. Add that to heavy holiday traffic and you have a recipe for disaster.
Last year, 10 fatal vehicle crashes across Kentucky claimed the lives of 11 people during the Thanksgiving travel period. One fatal crash involved alcohol and four fatalities resulted from not wearing a seat belt.
“The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is traditionally one of the most traveled weekends of the year," says Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer. "To ensure we all make it to our destinations safely, troopers will be on Kentucky roadways looking for unsafe driving practices including seat belt and impaired driving violations.”
"It's the simple, common sense things that can make a crucial difference such as wearing a seat belt, reducing your speed and avoiding driving after consuming alcohol or drugs," notes Brewer.
KSP will participate in the official 2014 Thanksgiving holiday enforcement period that extends through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.
