NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that the New York State Police will participate in a special traffic enforcement initiative to combat unsafe driving behavior over the Thanksgiving weekend. The special traffic control period runs from Wednesday, November 22, 2023 to Sunday, November 26, 2023 and will focus on driving under the influence of alcohol and distractions, as well as speeding and the Law Move Over.
“The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest times of the year for travel and our goal is to ensure everyone gets where they need to go safely,” said Governor Hochul. “State police and local authorities will be working to prevent unnecessary accidents. “I urge drivers to follow the rules of the road and make safety their top priority while traveling this holiday season.”
In an effort to ease travel during the busy Thanksgiving weekend, temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects will be suspended on New York State highways beginning at 6 a.m. Wednesday the 22nd. November until 6 am on Monday, November 27.
Motorists are advised that some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers for emergency repairs. The suspension of construction aligns with the initiative Driver’s First of New York State, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge construction.
The Authority of Thruway reminds motorists that 12 service areas are closed and under construction as part of the $450 million private investment and modernization project. Fuel services remain open at all locations. Motorists can view service areas and plan their stops on the Thruway Authority’s website and free mobile app.
State Police will supplement regular patrols across the state, including stationary sobriety checkpoints, which target distracted drivers by using Concealed Identity Enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles to better locate talking drivers or send text messages on portable devices. These unmarked vehicles blend into everyday traffic, but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.
High traffic volumes typically occur during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It is also a time when alcohol consumption is widespread. During the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday period, police arrested 213 drivers for DWI, issued 4,757 speeding tickets, and 425 distracted driving tickets.
If you drive drunk or drugged, you not only put your life and the lives of others at risk, but you could also face arrest, jail time, and substantial fines and attorney fees. The average drunk driving arrest costs up to $10,000.
Arrested drunk and drugged drivers face loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of unexpected expenses from attorney fees, fines and court costs, towing and auto repair, and lost time at work.
The New York State Police, GTSC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend these simple tips to avoid drunk driving:
- Plan a safe route home before the fun begins;
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
- If you are incapacitated, use a taxi or ride-sharing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
- Use your community’s sober travel program;
- If you suspect a drunk or impaired driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact local police;
- If you know someone who is about to drive or travel drunk, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.
2023-11-22 09:31:05
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