DPS urges Texans to practice safe holiday driving habits

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging Texans to drive responsibly and take extra precautions to help keep roadways safe during the heavily travelled Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

“Unique challenges – including increased traffic, possible winter weather and impaired driving – can make holiday travel particularly challenging and potentially dangerous,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “DPS troopers will be working around-the-clock to protect travelers on our roadways, and drivers must do their part and always drive sober.”

DPS troopers will be patrolling Texas roadways throughout the holiday weekend to promote safety and identify dangerous drivers.

During the Thanksgiving weekend in 2013, DPS troopers arrested 387 individuals for driving while intoxicated, issued 6,848 speeding citations, 804 citations for no insurance and 704 seat belt/child safety seat citations. DPS patrols also resulted in 244 fugitive arrests and 187 felony arrests during the same time period.

DPS offers the following tips for safe travel during the Thanksgiving holiday:

• Don't drink and drive.

  Designate a driver or take a cab.

• Slow down – especially in bad weather, construction areas and heavy traffic.
• Eliminate distractions, including the use of mobile devices.
• Buckle up everyone in the vehicle – it's the law.
• Slow down or move over for police, fire, EMS and Texas Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks that are stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated – it's the law.
• Don't drive fatigued – get plenty of rest before trips or take breaks as needed.
• Drive defensively, as holiday travel may present additional challenges.
• Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained before your trip begins.