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2016 News Release

State Police Serve Up Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving Holiday

West Trenton, N.J. - Before you can dig into that freshly carved turkey and all of the fixings this Thanksgiving, you must first hit the road and battle the traffic on one of the busiest travel days of the year.  With a little bit of preparation and planning, you can drastically improve your chances of making it to dinner on time instead of arriving late to a cold turkey sandwich. 

Before you leave for your trip, make sure you fill up your tank, check you tire pressure and wiper blades, pack supplies in case you breakdown, and leave early because your trip may take longer than usual due to traffic congestion. 

During the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday period, there were 10 fatal crashes that resulted in 12 deaths on Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ roadways. Drug or alcohol impairment was found to be a contributing factor in seven of the crash fatalities.  These types of tragedies can easily be avoided by calling a taxi, using transportation applications such as Uber and Lyft, or making plans to stay with friends or family.

The Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ State Police will have more than 140 additional troopers statewide during the holiday period in addition to normal patrols.  Troopers will focus their efforts on speeding, aggressive driving, seatbelt usage, cell phone violations, motorists exhibiting signs of distracted driving, and DWI.
Motorists can increase travel safety by following these tips:

• Make sure your cell phone is fully charged
• Carry a flashlight with new batteries.
• Bring bottles of water and snacks such as protein bars.
• Insist that all vehicle occupants use seatbelts.
• Don’t drive drowsy.  The symptoms of driving tired are similar to those of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Make sure you get enough rest.  Use service areas to pull over, stretch your legs, or grab a cup of coffee.
• Steer clear of “road ragers.”  Challenging an aggressive driver for a position is a dangerous way to get to your destination a few seconds sooner. 
• Prepare before you drive and map your route.
• Check the weather forecast to stay on top of any changes.

“Regardless of whether you’re driving one mile or 100 miles, don’t get behind the wheel after drinking,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ State Police.  “We will have extra troopers on patrol to keep our roadways safe this Thanksgiving and we expect motorists to do their part as well.” 

The 2016 Thanksgiving holiday officially begins at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 23 and continues until 6:00 a.m. Monday, November 28.

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