Colonel Eric T. Olson, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds everyone to expect an increase in traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday.
According to a news release, more vehicles on the road will mean changes to your normal traffic route, making courteous and attentive driving that much more important. The Patrol says driving with the highest degree of care is everyone’s responsibility, and following all traffic laws is imperative.
The counting period for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 27, through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, December 1. Over the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, 13 people were killed and another 498 people were injured in 1,640 traffic crashes.
Troopers also will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., enforcing all traffic laws and available to assist the public.
Whether you’re on the road visiting family and friends or out shopping for a good deal, you are urged to make sure your car is in good condition before you travel. It also is important that you are well rested before you start driving. Remember: There is never a reason to speed, drive aggressively or drive impaired.
If temperatures are mild, boating or fishing might become part of your Thanksgiving holiday weekend plans. If so, remember there is less daylight, which makes your vessel’s navigation lights essential. Check your lights and have extra bulbs on board before you head out. This time of year, the water is becoming colder and hypothermia is a concern. The body loses heat 25 times faster in water than in the air of the same temperature. If you take an unexpected plunge into cold water, it’s important to get out of the water and into dry clothes as soon as possible. Most boaters wear more clothing this time of year, so the proper wearing of life jackets and using caution to avoid falling overboard is even more important. Having a plan as to how you would exit the water if you inadvertently fall overboard is imperative. For example, does your boat have an exterior swim ladder to allow you to reenter the vessel?
Watercraft operators must consider the effect their actions have on others: Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment and courtesy to ensure the safety of all.
The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cell phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency. These phone numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies. If your celebration includes alcohol, designate someone else to drive whether you are in your boat or your car.