News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Tennessee Highway Safety Office encourages people traveling this holiday season to stay safe on the roadway.
Highway Safety Liaison Fred Sherrill says higher volumes of traffic will require drivers to be mindful of their surroundings.
“One of our big things is making sure everyone slows down. Families are out and they’re traveling from place to place and still doing their shopping to get everything took care of,” Sherrill says. “Slow down and make sure you wear your seat belt. Another real important thing is the way the weather changes from time to time. Make sure your vehicle’s lights are working correctly.”
Sherrill says people who drive with their lights on will become more visible and are less likely to crash.
“I know a lot of new vehicles have the daytime running lights and things, but there’s been bunches of studies where if you drive with your lights on, then crashes are proven to decrease because of the visibility,” Sherrill says.
Sherrill says being conscious of things such as following distance and not texting while driving will help decrease the number of accidents this season.
“Just be aware of your driving habits and make sure you stay safe while driving with kids and family,” Sherrill says. “It’s a joyous time. It’s a time to be safe and travel where you need to… just make sure you get there.”
AAA reports over 2.5 million Tennessee motorists are expected to travel this holiday season with over 112 million Americans traveling over 50 miles or more.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation will pause all lane closure activities on interstates and state highways beginning Friday Dec. 21 through Jan 2.
