for Thanksgiving holidays

Staff Report

Thanksgiving traditionally is a period of heavy holiday traffic.

To help ensure safe travel, Alabama State Troopers are urging all motorists to drive defensively, avoid drinking and driving and use safety belts and child restraints.

"I remind all motorists that Alabama law requires the use of safety belts, so I encourage people who plan to be on the roads this holiday season to buckle up," Gov. Don Siegelman said. "I urge motorists to drive responsibly during the holiday period to ensure safety on our roadways."

The Department of Public Safety estimates 16 people will die in traffic accidents in Alabama during the 102-hour period, which starts at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22 and continues until midnight, Nov. 26.

Last year, 16 people did die as a result of traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday. At least four of the deaths were alcohol-related and 12 of the fatalities were not wearing seat belts.

Col. James H. Alexander, director of Public Safety, is encouraging motorists to "buckle up and drive with extreme caution throughout the long holiday weekend.

"We want everyone to arrive safely to celebrate with family and friends," Alexander said.

According to Alexander, all available troopers will be patrolling the state’s roadways to enforce Alabama’s DUI law, speed limits and all other traffic laws.

Troopers will also join in the "Buckle Up America" and "Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children" safety campaigns, emphasizing safety restraint enforcement during traffic stops and at checkpoints.

Alabama’s child restraint law requires children 3 and under be in federally approved child safety seats. Children 4 and 5 years old must either occupy a safety seat or use regular seat belts. The state’s seat belt law also requires all front-seat occupants to use seat belts.