Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, putting more people on the road, and unfortunately increasing the likelihood of crashes.

As millions of travelers begin flooding the roads for Thanksgiving, it’s best to follow these simple safety tips to help you and your families stay safe on the highways.

• Be ready for the changing weather conditions. As always winter is just around the corner in the North Country. Be prepared before heading out. Check the current road conditions at www.511ny.org. Plan your route and allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Before heading out let someone know your route and estimated time of arrival.

• Reduce your speed. Speeding is illegal and endangers you and everyone on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2020, 11,258 people were killed by speeding. The faster you go the harder it is to stop, making the force of any collision greater. Slowing down and being patient on the road will ensure you make it to your destination safe.

• Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving impaired is illegal and even the smallest amounts of alcohol/drugs can affect judgment and reaction time. Many over-the –counter and prescription medicines can cause dizziness and or drowsiness. Follow all warning labels on medication and talk to your doctor about possible drug interactions. If you plan on drinking or need to take medication have someone else drive.

• Don’t drive distracted. Distractions while driving are not just risky, they can be deadly. Texting and driving increases your chances of a crash by 23 times. While texting and driving are dangerous it’s not the only type of distraction that can happen in a vehicle. Simply changing the radio, eating or drinking, and extra passengers are just as dangerous. To fully focus on driving make all appropriate adjustments before leaving, eat at home, keep electronics away or have a passenger handle calls, and if your too distracted by passengers a simple reminder to them could ensure a safe drive.

• Buckle up. Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Not buckling up can result in being totally ejected from your vehicle in a crash which is almost deadly. In 2021 an estimated 14,955 lives were saved as a result of properly using their seat belt (NHTSA). Remember to buckle your seatbelt in the front and back seats, it only takes 3 seconds to save a life.

St. Lawrence County Traffic Safety Program is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. For more information regarding Traffic Safety, contact Carrie Conger at cconger@stlawco.org, or 315-386-2207.