In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) urged drivers to “exercise patience, caution and good judgment behind the wheel” (Impaired and Impatient: MoDOT Warns of Traffic Trifecta around Thanksgiving Holiday). MoDOT emphasized that the holiday season creates a trifecta of problems on our nation’s roadways:
- impaired driving
- distracted driving
- heavy interstate congestion
The night before Thanksgiving has become known to law enforcement personnel as “Blackout Wednesday” because of the propensity for heavy drinking among people getting together with friends and family. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the week of Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday on American roadways, responsible for more than 800 fatalities from 2013 to 2017.
“Driving impaired or allowing someone else to drive impaired is irresponsible and not worth the risk,” said Jon Nelson, assistant to the Missouri highway safety and traffic engineer. “Make the right choice this holiday season to drive sober or find another way to reach your destination.”
Black Friday has also been known to create danger on Missouri roads. MoDOT encouraged eager shoppers to avoid trying to secure online deals while in the driver’s seat. “Everyone wants to hurry and find the best deals on Black Friday. Your best bet for staying safe on the way is to slow down, always buckle up, and put down the phone,” Nelson said.
Increased interstate congestion caused by travelers completes the trifecta of holiday traffic concerns. MoDOT urged Missouri drivers to give themselves additional time for holiday travel and plan their routes using real-time road and traffic conditions with its Traveler Information Map, available at traveler.modot.org.
The above advice is just as important for the rest of the upcoming holiday season, including Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Please enjoy the holidays with friends and family, but also take advantage of MoDOT’s efforts to keep Missouri drivers safe!
If you have been injured in a traffic accident, please contact Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman for a free consultation. We will only receive a fee in the event of a successful resolution of your case.
