2017 Thanksgiving Weekend: Stay Safe on the Road

Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest times of the year on U.S. roadways. People are visiting families and friends for the holiday, which means more vehicles on the highway.

This traffic increase during Thanksgiving weekend can unfortunately lead to the possibility of a crash because of drunk driving. In fact, Thanksgiving has become one of the deadliest times of the year. “Thanksgiving Eve,” the Wednesday before, is one of the year’s biggest drinking days.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging drivers to stay safe on Thanksgiving.

In 2012 according to NHTSA’s data, there were 764 traffic fatality crashes during Thanksgiving. At least 40 percent, or around 300, of those passengers killed were involved with drunk drivers. Christmas that year had 654 traffic fatality crashes.

Plan Ahead for Thanksgiving Weekend

This Thanksgiving weekend, make sure to have a game plan for any situation involving alcohol. Understand your limits, and if you plan on drinking heavily, have a ridesharing app such as Lyft on your phone. Or designate a friend to take you home from the party.

Smart Start hopes you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Need an Ignition Interlock?

Smart Start can help you get back on the road with the most reliable Ignition Interlock. Even if you’re calling on a holiday, our team will be standing by to assist you, whether it’s for an install appointment or questions, at any time.

Keep in mind that our Customer Care Center is open 24/7/365, but our service shops may have holiday hours! Your Smart Start agent will be able to let you know your nearest service shop’s hours.

To schedule an Ignition Interlock installation appointment, call our Customer Care Center today at (800) 831-3299 or fill out our online form.