CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE ISSUE

THANKSGIVING SAFETY ADVISORY

   As Connecticut residents prepare for the Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends the Connecticut State Police have also implemented plans for enhancement of enforcement and visibility on all of our highways and roads in Connecticut. Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) is an intricate part of the highway safety plan.

   The Connecticut State Police will supplement normal routine patrol personnel with additional State Troopers over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Troopers will patrol all roads and highways across Connecticut to focus on drunk driving and to also target aggressive drivers and unsafe operation.

   Thanksgiving Eve and Day are the busiest traffic days of the year. Motorists should remember: Don’t follow too close, slow down, stay off your cell phone while driving and report any suspected drunk drivers to police.

   Troopers will set up sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols will also be set up to target DUI problem areas across the state throughout the entire weekend.  The Connecticut State Police are committed to reducing crashes through preventive enforcement initiatives such as safety spot checks at sobriety checkpoints. Troopers will also be looking for the violators that cause accidents on Connecticut roads and highways. Every effort to reduce accidents is being taken but, Connecticut Residents are urged to be a part of the public safety solution.

   Traveling on Connecticut roads and highways requires that drivers use skill and concentration at all times. Driving safely should always be the first priority for all licensed motor vehicle operators.

   Connecticut state law requires motorists approaching stationary emergency vehicles to immediately slow to a speed below the posted speed limit and, if traveling in the lane adjacent to an emergency vehicle, move over one lane, unless it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. As defined by law, “emergency vehicle” is any vehicle with activated flashing lights including ambulances, fire vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles or licensed wreckers.

   Uniformed Troopers plan to use Non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issuing tickets to reckless distracted drivers. A reminder to all drivers, that anyone who is consuming alcohol should never get behind the wheel.

   Commissioner James Thomas said, “Your Connecticut State Police will work very hard to keep our Connecticut roads and highways safe.  Help us reduce accidents, drive with extra caution this Thanksgiving holiday.  As we do our part through enforcement, please do your part by driving safely.”

   Residents should remind all young people especially college students returning home the first time this semester, of the rules regarding alcohol consumption and drinking and driving.

   “At this busy time of year we urge parents to take the time and talk to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking,” said Jill Spineti President of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership.

FIRE SAFETY

   In addition to driving safe on Connecticut roadways, citizens are also reminded by State Police Detectives assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office to be safe in their homes. Cooking fires nearly double during the Thanksgiving Holiday. The following safety tips will help keep our citizens safe:

• Keep your family and guests safe with working smoke detectors in your home. Test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries at least twice a year. Remind your guests of your fire escape plan and designated meeting place for your home.
• Have a fire extinguisher available not more than 10 feet from the stove, on the exit side of the room.
• When cooking, do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or dangling jewelry. The clothing can catch on fire and the jewelry can catch on pot handles, causing spills and burns.  Try to cook on the back burners when possible and turn pot handles in so they don’t extend over the edge of the stove.
• Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, turn off the stove or have someone else watch the stovetop. Keep small children out of the kitchen during cooking.
• Keep Thanksgiving decorations and kitchen clutter away from sources of direct heat.
• Candles are often part of holiday decorations. Candles should never be left burning when you are away from home or after you’ve gone to bed. Candles should be located where children will not be tempted to play with them, and where guests will not accidentally brush against them. The candle holder and any surrounding decorations should be completely noncombustible.

   With fire-wise common sense, you can make sure tragedy does not come between you and the Thanksgiving festivities you have planned.

2009 Thanksgiving Statistics:

1,528 Speeding tickets

769 seatbelt violations

76 DWI arrests

1,460 Hazardous moving violations

376 accidents, 46 with injury, 5 fatalities

Thanksgiving 2010 DUI Checkpoints

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LT. J. Paul Vance