WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the largest nationwide mobilization ever, more than 10,600 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states will be stepping up enforcement of child passenger safety, seatbelt and drunk driving laws over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The National Safety Council predicts 532 will die and 28,000 will be seriously injured in traffic crashes during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Before the recent American Airlines crash in the borough of Queens in New York City, AAA predicted 87 percent of all holiday travelers would choose to drive. Now the proportion of people going by car may be even greater. The Operation ABC Mobilization, which runs from November 19 to 25, comes as 30 million holiday travelers are expected to take to the roads.
The weeklong wave of enforcement was kicked off at the National Transportation Safety Board at an event to honor law enforcement for participating in the Mobilizations. Awards were given to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and Operation C.A.R.E.
This Mobilization was coordinated by the Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign in partnership with law enforcement, state highway safety officers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Buckle Up America initiative and the National Transportation Safety Board.