SACRAMENTO,
Calif. – As Californians plan for the Thanksgiving holiday during the ongoing
pandemic, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reminds everyone the rules of
driving safety are just as crucial as ever.
To
encourage safe travel, the CHP will enact a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP)
beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, and continuing through 11:59
p.m. on Sunday, November 29. During the
MEP, CHP officers will be actively looking for unsafe driving practices as well
as helping motorists in need.
“This year
has presented us with many unforeseen challenges, but safety is still our
priority,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said.
“If you choose to travel this Thanksgiving weekend, our goal is to help
motorists arrive at their destination without incident.”
Thanksgiving
weekend is traditionally one of the busiest travel times of the year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic may
be a bit lighter, but this is not an invitation to speed to your
destination. The rules of the road still
apply, and motorists should avoid driving tired, impaired, or distracted. Additionally, in an effort to reduce COVID-19
transmission, Governor Gavin Newsom has instituted a limited stay at home order
from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and a travel advisory, encouraging people to only go
about essential activities during those hours and to self-quarantine for 14
days if they are arriving from another state or country.
Those who
must be on the road, remember to buckle up. Proper seat belt use is the single
most effective way to save a life in the event of a crash. When you are traveling for the holiday, or
any time of the year, make sure everyone in the vehicle is safely secured
before even starting the car, and that includes children being in the correct
child safety seats.
During the
2019 Thanksgiving MEP, 42 people died on California roadways. Of the 27 who died within CHP jurisdiction,
11 were not wearing seat belts. The CHP
also made 867 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The
mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and
Security.
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