VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- As the holiday season continues, Airmen and their families traveling should take extra precautions to prevent any mishaps.
According to the National Safety Council, 355 people died on New Year's Day, 386 on Thanksgiving Day and 273 on Christmas Day in 2015.
“Typically, automobiles are the highest mode of transportation with the most fatalities, and traffic always increases during the holidays,” said Mark Stortecky, 30th Space Wing occupational safety specialist. “We want to make sure that everyone has a safe holiday season while enjoying time with their families. Here are some traffic safety tips to avoid preventable mishaps.”
Traffic safety tips:
• Use a designated driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party; alcohol, over-the-counter or illegal drugs all cause impairment
• Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled
• Put that cell phone away; many distractions can occur while driving, but cell phones are the main culprit
• Properly maintain the vehicle and keep an emergency kit with you
• Be prepared for heavy traffic, and possibly heavy snow
“On base, the hazardous zone is between Firefighter Road and San Antonio Road,” said Stortecky. “That’s our hazardous zone for vehicle accidents like roll-overs and multiple car accidents. Be very cognizant of the road conditions and drive defensively.”
These are a few basic precautions to ensure your family remains safe and injury-free throughout the season.
“Everyone here at the Safety Office wants everybody to be safe and have a good time during the holiday season,” said Stortecky. “We want everyone to enjoy their time with their families through the new year and accomplish the mission when they return.”