The holiday season is in full swing in Delaware and the rest of the United States. Because this is one of the busiest times of the year for travel and more cars on the roads equals more accidents, the state Office of Highway Safety kicked off a campaign last week to promote safe driving.
The annual Safe Family Holiday Campaign began over the Thanksgiving weekend and will run for six weeks. The initiative will include increased law enforcement measures, public awareness activities and media messaging targeting dangerous driving behaviors.
More specifically, Delaware law enforcement will be on the lookout for speeding, drunk driving and seatbelt usage.
Over last year’s holiday season, there were two highway fatalities and 15 injuries in alcohol-related crashes in the state.
As of last week, 111 people had been killed on Delaware roadways so far in 2014, which was slightly higher than the 95 people who had been killed by the same time last year.
According to the OHS, alcohol was a factor in nearly half of the fatalities and speeding contributed to 41 percent of the deaths. Additionally, 43 percent of those who were killed were not wearing seatbelts.
Therefore, keep the following safety tips in mind for a safe and happy holiday:
- Buckle up. You never know when an accident will happen, and if it does, a seatbelt can save your life.
- Don’t drink and drive. If you plan to drink at a holiday party, arrange a sober ride in advance.
- Follow posted speed limits. Speeding and winter weather don’t mix, so be sure to drive slowly and cautiously.
