WENHAM — As residents prepare to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, Chief Thomas Perkins and the Wenham Police Department would like to provide several important safety tips to remember while behind the wheel.
“We know that many of our community members will be traveling to see family and friends throughout the week,” Chief Perkins said. “With the increase of vehicles on the roads, we ask that everyone remember to be alert at all times and never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
To keep travelers safe, the Wenham Police Department offers the following safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
Plan Ahead
- Plan your travel and route by checking the weather, road conditions and traffic.
- Leave early, if necessary, and allow plenty of time to safely get to your destination.
- Carry items in your vehicle that may prove useful in the event of an emergency or if you get stranded, including snow shovel, broom, ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, flares/emergency markers, blankets, mobile phone with charger, water, food and any necessary medicine.
- If you become stranded, don’t run your vehicle with the windows up or in an enclosed space for an extended period of time to avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning. If you must run your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow and run it only sporadically – just long enough to stay warm.
Buckle Up, Drive Sober and Pay Attention
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Never drive while intoxicated or if distracted. In every state, it is against the law to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. Do not text while driving and always keep both hands on the wheel.
- Be sure to have a designated driver to ensure that you and your family members are safe at all times in the vehicle.
- If you see anyone with an alcoholic beverage, or if a person smells of alcohol, do not get into the car or let that person drive.
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