For Immediate Release

Monday, Nov. 23, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Wenham Police Remind Residents to Travel Safely This Holiday Season

WENHAM — With a record number of travelers hitting the road for Thanksgiving this week, Chief Thomas Perkins and the Wenham Police Department are reminding residents to travel safely and to never drink and drive.

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy their Thanksgiving holiday safely this year,” Chief Perkins said. “We urge residents to consider these safety tips and want to make it clear there is zero tolerance when it comes to drinking and driving. Officers on patrol will be vigilant in enforcing drunk driving laws.”

In 2012, the most recent nationwide stats available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate a total of 416 people died in traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving Holiday period, and 42 percent of those deaths were caused by crashes involving a drunk driver.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 40 percent of traffic fatalities that occur during the holidays involve a driver who is alcohol-impaired, compared to 31 percent for the rest of the year.

To keep travelers safe, Chief Perkins offers the following safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Buckle Up, Drive Sober and Pay Attention

• Never drive drunk or drive distracted. In every state, it is against the law to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• Be sure to have a designated driver to ensure that you are your family members are safe at all times in the motor vehicle.
• If you smell or see anyone with an alcoholic beverage, do not get into the car with them or let the person drive.

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.

For additional tips and information please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website or call the Wenham Police Department at 978-468-4000.

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