CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Thanksgiving week is upon us and many people will travel home to visit friends or relatives for the week. Visiting loved ones you have not seen in months or years is a great way to spend this holiday. It brings us closer together, strengthens family ties and gives us a time to be a family again.
But, unfortunately, Thanksgiving week will also bring some families together in a less happy way. Each year, hundreds of families lose loved ones on the highways. During last year's Thanksgiving week, 10 people died on South Carolina highways. Those ten families had their world turned upside-down because of a traffic death.
What can you do to ensure you are around for the next holiday? Reduce your risk of being in a mishap. First, slow down and follow the posted speed limits. Go with the flow of traffic, don't be the flow. Always wear seatbelts ... even around the block. Children should be securely fastened in approved child seats. Travel during the day because you are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal mishap during evening hours than during daylight. Obviously, don't even think about getting behind the wheel if you have had a drink.
Life is not without risks; try to manage those risks by acting responsibly. We all want to get home safe and sound. We want to share with friends and family, so get there safely and make it a happy holiday -- not a sad one. Hey, if you think about it, save some pecan pie for me.