NEWS: The 11th annual observance of Drive Safer Sunday on November 29, 2015 reminds Americans taking holiday road trips to focus on being rested and attentive to dangers inside and outside their cars, says Road Safe America.
Drive Safer Sunday falls on what is traditionally the busiest highway travel day of the year – the Sunday following Thanksgiving. It has been recognized, again this year, prompted by an official Resolution from the U.S. Senate.
The observance is sponsored by Road Safe America, a non-profit dedicated to reducing collisions between tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles. Steve Owings and his wife, Susan, founded Road Safe America in 2003 after their son, Cullum, was killed when his car – stopped in an interstate traffic jam – was crushed from behind by a speeding tractor trailer going eight miles per hour above the posted speed limit on cruise control. That crash occurred on the Sunday after Thanksgiving as Cullum returned to college after spending the week at home in Atlanta with his family and friends.
“The Sunday after Thanksgiving will always be a painful one for our family,” Steve Owings said. “But we hope that by raising awareness of the dangers of holiday travel, other lives will be spared and other families will not have to deal with needless, tragic loss.”
U.S. Department of Transportation statistics show that, among the 40,000 average highway deaths each year during the past decade, over 500 are truckers and about 4,000 are auto drivers and passengers involved in collisions with big trucks.
RSA reminds everyone traveling during Thanksgiving – and the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to come – to:
– Get plenty of rest before setting out and take frequent breaks to remain alert.
– Consider driving during off-peak travel hours to minimize congestion.
– Avoid unnecessary distractions behind the wheel – including loud sound systems and the use of any hand-held devices. Remember that in many states, a hand-held phone – and particularly texting behind the wheel – has become illegal.
– Give large trucks plenty of room since they can’t see as well, maneuver as quickly, or stop in the same distance as passenger vehicles can.
Learn more at: http://www.roadsafeamerica.org/.
Road Safe America: PO Box 191502, Atlanta, GA 31119-1502.
Twitter: @RoadSafeAmerica #DriveSaferSunday
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