TEXAS — You’re going to see a lot more Texas Highway Patrol troopers on the roads as Thanksgiving approaches. Starting on Wednesday and lasting through Sunday, Nov. 28, troopers are stepping up patrols in an effort to get Texans to and from their holiday celebrations safely.
DPS troopers are looking for people not wearing seat belts, failing to follow the Move Over, Slow Down law, driving while intoxicated and other traffic violations.
This is a part of the agency’s annual Operation Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort initiative during the Thanksgiving holiday.
“This Thanksgiving more people will be out and it’s important to remember it’s up to each one of us to keep the roads safe,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “DPS will do its part to keep Texas safe by holding people accountable, and we want everyone who may be driving for the holiday to do their part by obeying all traffic laws, so everyone gets to their destinations unharmed.”
Last year’s enforcement efforts resulted in nearly 37,000 warnings and citations, more than 200 DWI arrests and nearly 400 felony arrests.
Safety tips DPS offers for the Thanksgiving holiday include:
- Don’t drink and drive
- Move Over, Slow Down for those on the stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated
- Wear your seat belt
- Slow down, especially in bad weather and construction
- Don’t cut in front of large trucks, and try not to brake quickly in front of them
- Check your vehicle and make sure it’s properly maintained
- Use the left lane for passing only in multi-lane roads
- Don’t drive fatigued
- Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices
- Monitor weather and road conditions