The Rhode Island State Police will be participating in the following enforcement efforts during the Thanksgiving holiday, November 23rd – November 27th.
• “Click It or Ticket Campaign” a nationwide program sponsored by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with the primary message of “Buckle Up America, Every Trip, Every Time”.
• “Operation C.A.R.E.” (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) a multi-state program of patrol and enforcement activities committed to the goal of motor vehicle crash reduction through strict traffic enforcement.
• “Rhode Island Statewide Impaired Driving Task Force,” a combined effort comprised of State Police and municipal police departments targeting impaired drivers in an effort to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injury.
The Rhode Island State Police reminds motorists that Troopers will be maintaining an enhanced presence on the roadways throughout the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Patrols will be deployed to target impaired or intoxicated drivers, seat belt and child restraint violations, aggressive drivers, speeding violations, texting violations, and all traffic violations.
This Thanksgiving weekend, millions of Americans will hit the roads, eager to spend time with family and friends. It’s one of the busiest travel times of the year, and unfortunately that means more crashes. Surviving your Thanksgiving drive this year, and making it to next Thanksgiving can be as simple as buckling up.
In 2014, seat belts saved the lives of 12,802 passenger vehicle occupants. If seat belt use had been at 100 percent, an additional 2,814 people would still be alive this Thanksgiving. Seat belts are the most effective safety feature ever invented and have helped save thousands of lives. Sadly, one in five Americans fails to regularly wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety reminds everyone, “The holiday season is a time to appreciate your families and friends but is also a very dangerous time of the year for fatal and serious motor vehicle crashes. So this Thanksgiving, and every day of the year, make sure your seat belt is buckled before you start any road trip. Troopers see the devastation first-hand when people fail to buckle up in a crash, so whether it’s one mile or a thousand, we ask that you be responsible so you can enjoy all that means most to you.”
Motorists are reminded that they can immediately report dangerous drivers or hazardous roadway conditions to the State Police by dialing 911 on their cellular phones. This will assist the State Police in its effort to protect citizens and visitors traveling on Rhode Island’s roadways.
