Press Release

PLYMOUTH — This Thanksgiving, travel is expected to rebound to nearly pre-pandemic levels.

According to AAA, it’s predicted that 48.3 million people will be taking to the roads for the holiday, an eight percent increase from last year. Unfortunately, heavier traffic, combined with declining seat belt use and the prevalence of impaired driving, makes this travel period particularly dangerous for road users.

In response, the Indiana State Police are joining hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the state for the Safe Family Travel campaign. Over the next six weeks, officers will be out in greater numbers to discourage impaired driving and ensure drivers and passengers are properly buckled.

The high-visibility patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and will concentrate around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.

“The holiday season combined with more people on the road can be a recipe for disaster unless people choose to drive responsibly, drive sober, and wear seatbelt,” said Lieutenant Chad Larsh, district commander of the Indiana State Police Bremen Post. “It is our hope that this holiday season is one that is remembered for all the right reasons.”

In Indiana and nationwide, reckless driving incidents remain higher than during pre-pandemic times. As of early October, 683 people have been killed in crashes statewide, which is an eight percent increase from the same time in 2019 and on pace with 2020 — one of the deadliest years in the past decade.

Of the total number of vehicle occupants killed in crashes so far this year, more than 40 percent were not wearing seat belts. Moreover, seat belt use in Indiana declined for the first time in five years from 94.9 percent before the pandemic to 92.9 percent.

“Whether you’re driving for 10 minutes or 10 hours, we’re asking everyone to plan ahead and make safety their top priority,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI executive director. “Don’t be the reason there’s an empty seat at your table or someone else’s this Thanksgiving.”