Statewide Iowa — Thanksgiving weekend starts in a week and a half, and millions of Americans will hit the roads, eager to spend time with family and friends. It is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and unfortunately, that may mean more crashes.
The Sheldon Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and several other law enforcement agencies will be out in force for a Special Traffic Enforcement Project, or STEP.
The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau –or GTSB — tells us it’s important to remember the ABC’s of safe driving.
ALWAYS means every time. Every driver should, without fail, buckle up, drive sober and follow all the rules of the road……every trip, EVERY TIME! Using your safety belt and driving sober are two simple tasks drivers can do to save time, lives, and money.
BE means to take place. Safe driving should TAKE PLACE as our first and only priority when behind the wheel. Driving is a full-time job that requires every driver’s complete attention. Driving distracted can lead to deadly consequences.
CAREFUL means watchful. Drivers should consistently be WATCHFUL of unsafe drivers and their surroundings. Being a defensive driver will allow you to react to avoid crashes, dangerous situations and can save you money and more importantly, your life.
The GTSB says that when you wear your seatbelt as a front-seat occupant of a passenger car, your risk of fatal injury goes down by 45%. They say this proves that seatbelts save lives. They tell us that distracted driving is one of the fastest-growing safety issues on the roads today. In 2020 in Iowa, there were 945 crashes and four deaths due to drivers distracted by the use of the phone or other electronic device. They advise motorists to be attentive and put the phone down.
GTSB officials say that in 2020 in Iowa, there were 669 crashes and 30 deaths in which exceeding the speed limit was the cause. They say, “Speed is something we can all control. Obey the speed limit to save lives.”
According to GTSB, driving impaired is costly and can be deadly. They say there were 51 deaths and 1,383 crashes in Iowa in 2020 due to alcohol-impaired driving. Rideshare, taking the keys, or even better, planning ahead can prevent impaired driving and still allow everyone to have a good time, says the GTSB.
In Iowa, during the 13-day Thanksgiving period between November 15, and November 28, 2020, thirteen people lost their lives on Iowa’s roadways and during the 2020 Thanksgiving holiday alone, three people were killed on Iowa’s roadways. The GTSB says even one life lost is too many.
During this year’s Thanksgiving STEP campaign, November 15-28, 2021, law enforcement across Iowa will be enforcing the traffic laws and reminding drivers that safe driving is as simple as ABC…ALWAYS BE CAREFUL.
