This Thanksgiving a record 71.7 million people are expected to travel by vehicle.  This is up by 1.3 million people compared to last year according to AAA.  We fully expect traffic to start getting busier as early as Monday afternoon and continuing heavier leading up to Thanksgiving Day.  We will observe spikes on days like Black Friday and the mad dash back on Sunday to return to work on Monday for most.

We know more vehicles on the road leads to more incidents of crashes and even road rage.  Our goal at the Iowa State Patrol is to get people to their families safe and sound!  We cannot do this alone, and it is the responsibility of every driver to obey traffic laws and drive safely.

Putting the phone down, not driving impaired, and making sure you and your vehicle are up to the trip are important parts of a safe journey no matter how far you plan to travel.  Plan your trip by getting plenty of sleep the night before and communicating with family and friends as you hit the road.  Getting stranded on the side of an interstate can be a dangerous place to find yourself, so make sure your car is up to the task and functioning properly.

Having your seat belt on in every position in the vehicle is the extra insurance if you are in an unavoidable crash.  In Iowa, 43% of the people have lost their lives this year not having their seat belts on!  A tragedy that shows up clearly when those we love are not with us to celebrate this Thanksgiving!

Always Be Careful and have a Happy Thanksgiving.