The American Automobile Association, or “AAA”, is predicting this to be the most traveled Fourth of July Holiday period on record with over 49 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles from home. It’s estimated that 41 million of those traveling will be on the highways. Some of the reasons given for the record travel are a robust economy and gas prices that are lower than last summer.
To help ensure the safety of all motorists during this Fourth of July Holiday period, the Indiana State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., Combined Accident Reduction Effort, and DUIEP, or Driving Under the Influence Enforcement Project. Both of these federally funded programs allow extra troopers to patrol Hoosier highways during the upcoming holiday period.
Indiana State Police encourage all motorists to observe the following safety tips:
- Leave early. Allow extra time to get to your destination.
- Don’t use cruise control in heavy traffic.
- Always signal lane changes.
- Use headlights even during daylight hours.
- Reduce your speed in rain and NEVER DRIVE INTO WATER FLOWING OVER THE ROADWAY.
- Decrease your speed in construction zones-Obey posted speed limits.
- REMEMBER TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, TOW TRUCKS, SERVICE TRUCKS AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE VEHICLES!!
- Make sure you are well rested. A fatigued driver is as dangerous as an impaired driver.
- Increase the distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you, especially in construction zones.
- Don’t forget to watch for slow moving farm equipment on county and state roads.
- Watch for motorcycles. Check blinds spots before changing lanes and look twice at intersections before you turn or pull out into traffic.
- Allow at least three seconds of following distance between your vehicle and a motorcycle.
- Be cautious and observant when turning left. A primary cause of crashes between vehicles and motorcycles is when a vehicle turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle.
- Remember, motorcycles are entitled to operate in a full lane.
- Obey all traffic laws and never drive impaired.
Know before you go
With all the road construction going on around the state, you may check on traffic and road conditions, crashes and construction on state highways by visiting http://indot.carsprogram.org, calling 1-800-261-ROAD (7623), or dialing 511 from a mobile phone
Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1. Give a vehicle description, location, and direction of travel. Never follow an impaired driver.
