DPS ENCOURAGES SAFETY DURING BUSY HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON
Millions of Texans will be traveling this holiday season, and DPS wants to remind them to be safe wherever they are headed.
According to AAA Texas, holiday travel is expected to rebound to nearly pre-pandemic levels. Close to 9 million Texans will be traveling more than 50 miles away from home between December 23rd and January 2nd, a 32 percent increase from last year and an 8 percent decrease from 2019. Almost 8.3 million people will be traveling via car this year, a 27 percent increase from 2020.
DPS Sergeant Stephen Woodard says while the weather this Christmas is expected to be very mild, that will not be the case everywhere.
With the increased traffic comes a greater chance for travelers to encounter instances of road rage. Sgt. Woodard says to keep calm and report any suspicious activity as soon as possible.
Through January 2nd, Texas Highway Patrol will conduct its annual holiday traffic enforcement campaigns, looking for people who are speeding, not wearing their seat belts, driving while intoxicated or committing other traffic violations.
DPS offers the following safety tips for the Christmas and New Year's holidays:
- Don’t drink and drive. Make alternate plans if you are consuming alcohol.
- Move Over or Slow Down for police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated. Show the same courtesy to fellow drivers who are stopped on the side of the road. This year alone, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 14, DPS issued 12,060 warnings and citations for violations of this law.
- Buckle up everyone in the vehicle — it’s the law.
- Slow down, especially in bad weather, heavy traffic, unfamiliar areas or construction zones.
- Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices. Texas law prohibits the use of portable wireless devices to read, write or send an electronic message unless the vehicle is stopped.
- If you’re using a navigation device or app, have a passenger operate it, so you can keep your eyes on the road.
- Drive defensively, as holiday travel can present additional challenges.
- Don’t drive fatigued — allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
- On multi-lane roads, use the left lane for passing only. Not only is it courteous and avoids impeding traffic, Texas law requires slower traffic to keep to the right and to use the left lane for passing only (when posted).
- Don’t cut in front of large trucks, and try not to brake quickly in front of them. They can’t maneuver as easily as passenger vehicles and pickup trucks.
- If you can Steer It, Clear It: If you are involved in a non-injury crash and your vehicle can be moved, clear the traffic lanes to minimize traffic impact. Leaving vehicles in a traffic lane increases traffic congestion and leaves those involved with an increased risk of harm or a secondary wreck. On some highways, if you don’t move your vehicle when it’s safe to do so, it’s against the law.
- Check your vehicle to make sure it’s properly maintained and always ensure your cargo is secure.
- Keep the Texas Roadside Assistance number stored in your phone. Dial 1-800-525-5555 for any type of roadside assistance. The number can also be found on the back of a Texas Driver License.
- Report road hazards or anything suspicious to the nearest law enforcement agency.
- Monitor weather and road conditions wherever you are traveling. For road conditions and closures in Texas, visit Drive Texas.