Remember travel safety during the holidays

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds everyone there will be an increase in traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with Wednesday and Sunday afternoon/evenings being the most heavily traveled times. Drivers should expect more traffic and the possibility of delays throughout the weekend. Regardless of traffic patterns, safety should remain a priority.

The counting period for the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday weekend is from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 27, 2024, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 1, 2024. Troopers will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., enforcing all traffic laws, and available to assist the public. Over the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, nine people were killed and 4,823 injured in 1,342 traffic crashes.

If you plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend be sure your vehicle is in good condition, obey all traffic laws, and be sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt or secured in the appropriate child safety seat for their size and age. Remember: Missouri is now a hands-free state and there is never a reason to speed, drive aggressively, or drive impaired.

The MoDOT Traveler Information Map can be a helpful tool while you are traveling. The map provides up-to-date information such as road closures, delays, construction zones, and alternative routes. You can download the app for free to your smart device.

If being on or near the water is part of your Thanksgiving holiday weekend plans, remember that 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. The proper use of life jackets is imperative.

The public is encouraged to call the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity, observe driving behavior that could cause a crash, or experience an emergency. These phone numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies. If your celebration includes intoxicants, designate someone else to drive whether you are in a boat or vehicle. Please don’t become a statistic.