Staying Safe While Traveling for Thanksgiving

If you’re driving out of northeast Michigan to visit family and friends this Thanksgiving, there are several ways you can stay safe on the roads.

Many people will make long drives this holiday, and the Presque Isle Road Commission wants people to be aware of the ways they can avoid any issues.

“Today we have some rain mixed with snow and it is down close to the freezing point and different elevations, and as you get away from the big lakes, it could be freezing up, so you really need to pay attention,” said Presque Isle Road Commission manager David Kowalski.

Thanksgiving is the holiday with the highest number of drunk drivers, so anyone on the road must be cognizant of that fact.

Many people will drive distances of more than 50 miles as well, so they will need to be prepared to be in the car for a long time.

“Get rested up, take your breaks, stop at the rest areas and use them, and just keep yourself fresh and paying attention,” said Kowalski.

For those who are looking to get out ahead of the masses and beat the traffic, leaving early in the day allows for optimal reaction time as opposed to driving later at night.

“Leave early and make sure you don’t drive later than what you feel comfortable doing,” said Kowalski. “Night time adds a lot more fatigue to your driving and gives you a lot less room to react to things too, such as deer or anything like that.”

Oftentimes, people want to get where they need to go as soon as possible, and try to make a trip one day when it could be two.

“You want to get there, so maybe that one trip should have been a two days trip so you’re not so fatigued or tired,” said Kowalski.

WBKB encourages everyone traveling to stay safe on the road so you can enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday.