Ushering in a safe Thanksgiving
Safety patrolling on roads and in shopping areas has been stepped up by the California Police, as people usher in a long weekend holiday for Thanksgiving. The California Highway Patrol or CHP has launched the 'Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement Program' to monitor and control traffic on the vulnerable highways of California during the weekend break.
The annual thanksgiving festivities witness some of the thickest traffic every year as people spill on to roads to reach family, friends and enjoy their much awaited holiday. This year, approximately 4 million residents of California are expected to drive 50 miles plus on the occasion of Thanksgiving, which is about 5% more than last year. The CHP reported 56 road accident deaths in the state during the same holiday period last year. Of these, 38% had not been wearing seat belts.
This brings the CHP to the main focus of manning traffic this year, checking defaulters for not donning that safety element around them before hitting the road. The CHP has undertaken a huge drive against breach of this singularly significant driving rule and promises to come down heavily on deviators. Emphasizing the importance of wearing a seat belt, CHP Commander Chief Teresa Becher quipped, "It takes two seconds to buckle up”, adding that it is the simplest and fastest method of ensuring safety on the road.
The news of the CHP gearing up seems to have already affected vehicle drivers as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported an obedience rate of 92.5 % in the initial phase of the drive.
Patrolling will additionally be aimed at drunk driving and speed busters. The CHP has temporarily reported 330 arrests of drunk drivers so far, as against the corresponding 296 last year. However, it says fatalistic accidents have taken a slight plunge from last year figures.
With showers beginning to drench the Bay Area, The CHP has warned drivers to take into stock the weather and roads both before venturing outside and to maintain safe speeds.
News of similar stringent patrolling at shopping areas is coming in. Law compliance agencies will scour shopping thickets and roads alike, to stall theft and drunken behavior together. The police are prepared to conduct mobile patrolling to counter any attempts to burglar shops and harass shop owners. General warning has been issued to shoppers to keep their cars locked in well lit parking and place their buys safely in car trunks.
Though the CHP's yearly 'Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement Program' will taper off on Sunday midnight, shopping area manning will extend to the whole festive season coming up.
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Written
by :
Paul Robinson | Published on :
11:03:00
EST
Fri, 25 Nov 2005 |
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