MONTGOMERY – To ease Thanksgiving traffic congestion statewide and as an added safety precaution, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is announcing there will be no temporary lane closures on Alabama interstates from noon, Wednesday, Nov. 22, through midnight, Sunday, Nov. 26.

“Motorists can do their part for roadway safety during the Thanksgiving holiday by wearing a seat belt and making sure all passengers in their vehicle do the same,” said Allison Green, Drive Safe Alabama Coordinator with ALDOT. “It only takes a few seconds to buckle a seat belt. And those few seconds could be the difference between life and death if you’re involved in a crash.”

Always wear a seat belt, including passengers in front and rear seats.

The odds greatly favor those wearing a seat belt. The latest data shows that about 60 percent of Alabamians who die in vehicle crashes are not buckled up. In comparison, about 98 percent of people involved in vehicle crashes that are unharmed were reported to have been wearing their seat belts.

Speeding is the leading cause of fatal crashes in Alabama.

Drive alert when traveling through highway work zones.

Even when workers aren’t present, lanes in a work zone can shift or grooves in the road can alter the way a vehicle handles. So, it’s important to pay attention to changing conditions and maintain a safe distance around other vehicles.

For more safe driving tips visit the Drive Safe Alabama Facebook page.

Throughout the year, ALDOT limits road construction during major holiday weekends. Emergency lane closures may be possible based on specific circumstances on interstates and other state roadways.