It is no secret that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel holidays with people visiting their families to enjoy food and fellowship. Increased traffic leads to a greater potential for more danger on the roads.

The N.C. Department of Transportation and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program are reminding people to stay safe and buckle up – every seat, every time. It’s the law.

“Whether you’re driving to the grocery store a mile away or your grandparents’ house across the country,” Don Nail, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program said, “please buckle up in every seat this Thanksgiving, and every time you’re on the road.”

Drivers who fail to heed the warning are taking too big a risk — a hefty fine or worse: dying in a crash.

During the Thanksgiving “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which began Monday and continues through Sunday, law enforcement officers across the state will be out day and night to keep those who drive our highways safe.

November remains one of the top months for unbelted fatalities, particularly among 18- to 34-year-old males. The fine for not using your seatbelt recently increased to $179 from $161.

The N.C. State Highway Patrol, along with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program will join forces with local law enforcement agencies from across the state by participating in the N.C. Interstate Challenge Campaign. 

This campaign will focus special attention on all major interstate highways within North Carolina during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The purpose of the campaign is to combat fatal collisions along targeted highways in hopes of obtaining a desired goal of zero deaths within the campaign’s allotted time frame.

Increased patrols will be used during this initiative by placing a trooper or local officer every 20 miles throughout each interstate corridor to include I-26, I-40, I-73, I-74, I-77, I-85, and I-95 during the most heavily traveled periods of the holiday weekend. The campaign will be conducted on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and again on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

To help you and your loved ones stay safe this Thanksgiving, authorities recommend the following safety tips to drivers and passengers as they travel this Thanksgiving:

• Buckle up. Every seat, every time;
• Don’t drink and drive. Make sure you have a sober designated driver;
• Obey the speed limit;
• Keep a safe following distance;
• Turn on your headlights in the rain; and
• Put away all distractions including cell phones — it can wait.