Thanksgiving holiday travel period starts at 6 p.m. today, Highway Patrol urging caution
November 27, 2019
Mike Tanner
KWAT Radio News
PIERRE, S.D.—The South Dakota Highway Patrol is preaching safety for travelers this Thanksgiving holiday.
This year’s 102 hour Thanksgiving Day Holiday travel period runs from 6 p.m. tonight until midnight Sunday December 1st.
Last year during the same safety period, there were 279 motor vehicle crashes in South Dakota, resulting in three deaths and 35 injuries.
Highway Patrol Colonel Rick Miller says troopers will be out on the highways throughout the holiday weekend as part of “Operation Safe.” Miller says, “we know people are anxious to get where they are going, but it doesn’t mean anything if something tragic happens along the way. It just takes one bad decision to impact many people and families.”
He’s encouraging motorists to slow down, obey all rules of the road, don’t drink and drive, don’t be distracted by electronic devices, and wear your seat belt.
Nationally, AAA is estimating 55 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving.
