Drivers asked to observe Drive Safer Sunday

The 10th annual observance of Drive Safer Sunday is on Nov. 30 and Road Safe America reminds Americans taking holiday road trips “to focus on being rested and attentive to dangers inside and outside their cars.”

The observance is sponsored by Road Safe America, a non-profit dedicated to reducing collisions between tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles.

“Drive Safer Sunday” falls on what is traditionally the busiest highway travel day of the year - the Sunday following Thanksgiving. It has been recognized this year by more than twenty state governors and, again this year, prompted an official Resolution from the U.S. Senate.

Steve and Susan Owings founded Road Safe America in 2003 after their son, Cullum, was crushed from behind by a speeding tractor trailer.

going eight miles per hour above the posted speed limit on cruise control. That crash occurred on the Sunday after Thanksgiving as Cullum returned to

college after spending the week at home in Atlanta with his family and

friends.

“The Sunday after Thanksgiving will always be a painful one for our

family,” Steve Owings said. “But we hope that by raising awareness of the

dangers of holiday travel, other lives will be spared and other families

will not have to deal with needless, tragic loss.”

U.S. Department of Transportation statistics show that, among the 40,000

average highway deaths each year during the past decade, over 500 are

truckers and about 4,000 are auto drivers and passengers involved in

collisions with big trucks.

RSA reminds everyone traveling during Thanksgiving - and the Christmas and

New Year’s holidays to come - to:

- Get plenty of rest before setting out and take frequent breaks to remain

alert.

- Consider driving during off-peak travel hours to minimize congestion.

- Avoid unnecessary distractions behind the wheel - including loud sound

systems and the use of any hand-held devices. Remember that in many states,

a hand-held phone - and particularly texting behind the wheel - has become

illegal.

- Give large trucks plenty of room since they can’t see as well, maneuver

as quickly, or stop in the same distance as passenger vehicles can.

For more information, visit http://www.roadsafeamerica.org/ .

Road Safe America: PO Box 191502 Atlanta, GA 31119-1502

Executive Director: Thomas M. Hodgson tmhodgson@roadsafeamerica.org