Saugus Police Remind Residents to Travel Safely This Holiday Season

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 978-769-5193
Email: jessica@jgpr.net

Saugus Police Remind Residents to Travel Safely This Holiday Season

SAUGUS — With a record number of travelers hitting the road for Thanksgiving this week, Chief Domenic DiMella and the Saugus Police Department are reminding residents to travel safely and to never drink and drive.

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday this year as they gather with family and friends,” Chief DiMella said. “Please act responsibly. We will be strictly enforcing drunk driving laws to prevent the loss of life, which happens all too often around the nation when people get behind the wheel after drinking, especially during the holiday season.”

The most recent nationwide stats available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that a total of 416 people died in traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving Holiday period in 2012, and 42 percent of those deaths were caused by crashes involving a drunken 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 DiMella 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 and 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 Saugus Police Department at 781-941-1199.

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