MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Last week, the Alabama Department of Transportation announced there would be no temporary lane closures during the Thanksgiving period to ease traffic congestion and gave top three Holiday Highway Safety tips for 2017.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was promoting #ArriveAliveAlabama before and during Thanksgiving last week. Motorists seemed to have taken note, as Alabama State Troopers only investigated six traffic deaths during that period. This was 10 fewer traffic-related deaths than last year during the same time frame. Last year, ALEA investigated 419 traffic accidents which resulted in 204 injuries and 16 fatalities. Statewide numbers are not yet available for this year’s Thanksgiving period, but there were only the six fatalities with two zero fatality days in the five day Thanksgiving weekend.
These crashes consisted of mostly single-vehicle accidents, only one involving a vehicle and train resulting in two deaths. Of the six fatalities, only one was a driver, the other five were passengers. Only one of the six was wearing a seat belt.
Even though Thanksgiving has passed for this year, ALEA encourages everyone to continue following the safety tips: always wear a seat belt, avoid drinking and driving, and do not text or have other distractions when driving.
