MoDOT Urges Extra Caution For Thanksgiving Travelers

As Missourians hit the road to spend Thanksgiving with loved ones this week, the Missouri Department of Transportation wants drivers to be cautious and use good judgment this holiday.

Impaired driving, distracted driving, excessive speeds and increased traffic are just a few of the concerns that can accompany holiday travel.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2016 to 2020, more than 800 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period, making it one of the deadliest holidays on the nation’s roadways.

In Missouri, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 12 people were killed and 61 seriously injured in crashes between the Wednesday before and the Sunday after last Thanksgiving.

With statewide traffic fatalities approaching 900 for the year, MoDOT wants motorists to be vigilant, buckle up, obey posted speed limits and never drive impaired or distracted.