Don’t be a statistic

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November 17, 2009

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Tue Nov 17, 2009, 09:46 PM EST

THE ISSUE:Thanksgiving travel.

OUR VIEW:Drive safely this holiday.

As you travel over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving, you’ll have company. More than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies will be patrolling Indiana streets and highways, the Indiana State Police report.

Beginning Friday and through Nov. 29, stepped-up patrols will crack down on speeding and drivers who follow others too closely. They will look for signs of motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. They will aggressively enforce seat belt use.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports 65 million people traveled over Thanksgiving last year – 91 percent by personal vehicle. The greatest percentage of that – 40 percent – is on Thanksgiving Day, between 50 and 99 miles.

During last year’s holiday period, 15 people were killed on Hoosier roadways, the state police report. More than 66 percent of the fatalities were alcohol related. And in more than two-thirds of fatal accidents over the Thanksgiving holiday, the person killed was not wearing a seat belt.

This holiday, motorists can expect sobriety checkpoints to take drunken drivers off the roads.

Before heading out on the road, remember to make sure your tires are properly inflated, and that your wipers and lights operate properly. Also allow for extra time to your destination, and keep a little extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you.

In Indiana, there were 205,005 traffic accidents that resulted in injury or property damage in 2007, the state police report. Nine percent (18,491) were speed related; 4.8 percent (9,942) were alcohol related.

Don’t be a statistic. Drive safely this holiday. And have a happy Thanksgiving.

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