|
Read News
|
Pocono News Section
Millions Hit the Highways for the Holiday Weekend
Millions Hit the Highways for the Holiday Weekend - Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 5:45PM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 @ 05:45pm EST
SOUTH ABINGTON TWP., LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Millions of people are hitting the highways for the Thanksgiving holiday. AAA says this year's Thanksgiving travel will be slightly higher than last year. 38 million people, and a majority of them will be going by car.
Police say they will be out in full force as part of Operation Safe Holiday. Eyewitness News was in the Abingtons as police showed high school students they're not joking around.
Students leaving Abington Heights High School Wednesday were greeted by police officers. The officers held a mini-cade detail making sure everyone was buckled up as they hit the roads.
South Abington Police Officer Christopher Michaels said, ÒThis is just a wake-up call for them to be a little more attentive -- let them know we're out there watching and we are out enforcing."
Even though you couldn't miss the checkpoint, several drivers had to be reminded to click it or ticket. Abington Heights Sophomore Sara Fulton said, ÒI think itÕs really good. There are a lot of people out on the roads and itÕs good for kids to be safe."
Junior Brooke Benson added, ÒI find it very uncomfortable if you don't because itÕs very awkward if you drive without it."
Senior Ethan Jones says he's seen some of his fellow classmates jump in the car and not give buckling up a second thought. ÒI think there's some kids definitely -- they don't take the time. They just drive away. ItÕs a very unsafe decision," he said.
An unsafe decision that could prove deadly on this busiest travel day of the year. Highway Safety Program Coordinator Kathy Fox said, ÒIn 2008 -- Thanksgiving had the most accidents of any major holiday in the state.Ó
Officers say this checkpoint won't be just a one-time thing through the busy holiday weekend. ÒWe do have additional enforcement details that will be out during the course of the weekend and through the end of the month,Ó added Officer Michaels. | | |
|
|
|