Police dish out Thanksgiving advice

Talk about it

Here’s something to add to your Thanksgiving menu: Safe driving.

If you do, you can be thankful for not only arriving at your holiday destination safely but also for avoiding a ticket because there will be more officers and deputies watching the roads.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Alexandria Police Department are stepping up their patrol efforts during the typically deadly Thanksgiving holiday.

Both agencies encourage motorists to focus on driving and be an attentive driver to ensure safer travel during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Statewide, from 2006-2008, 19 motorists were killed during the holiday weekend of Wednesday through Sunday.

Both the police department and sheriff’s office stressed that they recognize seat belt use and impaired driving as major concerns for Thanksgiving travelers.

Of the 19 Thanksgiving-period deaths from 2006-2008, alcohol-related crashes accounted for 10 of the deaths. On the 19 motorists killed, eight were unbelted. During that same time period, 2,232 motorists were arrested for DWI.

“We will be out enforcing all traffic violations to come to the common goal of promoting safer roadways and safer travel during the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Alexandria Police Department Sergeant Kevin Guenther.

“Every year, Thanksgiving travel turns tragic, resulting in empty chairs around the dinner table. Seat belt use and using designated drivers must be on the menu to ensure safe travel during the holiday,” said Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Brandon Chaffins.

Deputy Chaffins and Sergeant Guenther offer this simple traffic safety recipe to ensure safe thanksgiving travel:

•Plan for enough travel time to avoid the urge to speed. The posted speed is the speed limit.

•Pay attention. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest, highest-volume travel periods.

•If you plan on drinking, plan for a safe and sober ride home.

•Please make sure all occupants in your vehicle are buckled up or in a properly installed child safety seat or booster seat.

•Remember to follow all traffic laws.

Tags: douglas county, news, police, sheriff, thanksgiving, safety, alexandria, dwi, motorists