NEWS RELEASE



For further information please contact:

Capt. J. Tim Hull

(573) 526-6115

Q110610

November 14, 2006

EMPHASIS: Safety Should Be Part Of Thanksgiving Plans



The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds motorists that wearing a seat belt can save your life. As the holiday season approaches, many Missourians are making plans to travel. Thanksgiving weekend is a time for great food, football, and family. If you will be traveling this holiday, please remember to observe the traffic laws and buckle up. Take the time to make sure your car is in good condition before beginning your trip. It is also important that you are well rested before you start driving.



The Patrol will participate in Operation C.A.R.E (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) during this period. As part of this operation, all available officers will be assigned to Missouri’s roadways to enforce traffic laws, especially those related to drunk driving, speeding, and seat belt use. Troopers will also be assisting motorists as needed. The counting period for the 2006 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 22, 2006, until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2006.



During the 2005 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 19 persons were killed and another 676 were injured in 1,669 traffic crashes. These statistics show that one person was killed or injured every 8.8 minutes during last year’s Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Over the past five years, 83 people have been killed and 3,210 have been injured in traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday.



Motorists are reminded of the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number 1-800-525-5555 (or *55 on a cellular phone). The emergency assistance number should be used to report traffic crashes, crimes being committed, or other emergencies on Missouri’s highways. When you dial this number anywhere in the state, it rings directly into the closest Patrol headquarters.



“I urge motorists to obey all of Missouri’s traffic laws. If you see emergency personnel on the side of the road, with their lights flashing, move over into the next lane or slow down, “ said Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “Your family will be thankful when you arrive safely.”