Monday, November 22, 2004

Atlantic County Kicks Off Holiday Season with Annual Operation Thanksgiving

On November 24, 2004, 19 Atlantic County Police Departments will be participating in "Operation Thanksgiving" officially kicking off the holiday season. They will join their counterparts across New Jersey in urging motorists to drive alert, courteous, sober and buckled over the four day Thanksgiving Holiday.

"The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year," according to Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson. "It is a time when we see a dramatic increase in the number of vehicles traveling on state and local roadways," said Levinson. "Awareness efforts such as "Operation Thanksgiving" are an excellent way to reinforce the need to drive alert, sober and buckled," he said. The County Executive is also encouraging participation in the Hero Campaign for Designated Driving over the holidays. The Hero Campaign promotes the use of Designated Drivers in public drinking establishments, in private clubs and at private parties.

Local traffic officers, in cooperation with the Atlantic County Highway Safety Task Force, Atlantic County Association of Chiefs of Police, NJ Police Traffic Officers Association, Region 7, New Jersey State Police Troop A and the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety, will be thanking drivers and passengers who are buckled-up and driving in a safe manner.

Police in patrol cars will be positioned at selected intersections between the hours of 4 and 6 PM on Wednesday, November 24, 2004. Officers will be handing out incentives that include buckle-up key chains, pens, stickers, coloring and activity books, buckle-up and sober driver pads, bike reflectors, bike safety slide guides, emergency stickers, insurance card holders & evacuation maps and other materials.

"Operation Thanksgiving" will also be expanded to those communities that have bike paths. Police in Pleasantville, Northfield, Linwood, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township and Somers Point will be giving out extra treats to children wearing bike helmets.

Police Traffic Officers & members of the Atlantic County Highway Safety Task Force will be visiting local radio stations during morning drive time on November 24, promoting "Operation Thanksgiving."

The Thanksgiving Holiday period officially begins at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, November 24, 2004, and ends at 11:59 PM on Sunday, November 28, 2004. Ten people were killed in traffic crashes in New Jersey during the four-day Thanksgiving Holiday in 2003.

In an effort to make our roads as safe as possible, police departments will be maintaining extra patrols and checkpoints during the holiday season beginning with Thanksgiving and continuing through New Years Day.

For further information contact Atlantic County Director of Highway Safety & Community Affairs Michael Schurman at (609) 407-6739.

County News