ROADSIDE CHAT – THIS FRIDAY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BLACK. DRIVE SOBER
We’ve pushed back from our Thanksgiving tables and awakened to Black Friday – the day known as the official start of the Christmas shopping season. You can almost hear the “cha-ching” of cash registers on the busiest and most chaotic deal day of the year. Unfortunately, the Thanksgiving holiday period is also known for something that’s far less jolly. Nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities during this holiday week involve impaired drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
There’s more of us on the road this week than any other time of the year – AAA reports a record 71 million people traveling in vehicles. As we head into the holiday weekend and continue to celebrate and gather with family and friends, it’s important to remember that the decisions we make behind the wheel can have a lasting impact. Even a small amount of alcohol or other drugs can affect a person quickly.
If you’re going to drive, do it sober. Avoid the darker side of the holiday by making responsible choices and planning ahead to catch up with friends and family:
- Schedule a rideshare.
- Designate a driver.
- Use public transportation.
- Assess others’ sobriety and secure safe rides.
Show your gratitude by taking steps to prevent a crash that could have an irreversible outcome. This Thanksgiving holiday season, let’s keep the meaning of Black Friday for snagging the best deals, not for traffic fatalities.
In 2024 in Iowa, 309 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of one since last Friday. In Iowa in 2023, there were 377 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf