Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Isakson, Chambliss Urge Americans to “Drive Safer Sunday”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., today applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of a resolution they co-authored with Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ark., urging drivers to drive safely during the holiday season. The resolution designates Sunday, November 27, 2011, as “Drive Safer Sunday” and is designed to bring attention to the fact that the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest highway traffic day of the year.
The high volume of vehicles on America’s highways and interstates increases the risk for dangerous or fatal accidents. The “Drive Safer Sunday” resolution encourages motorists, trucking firms and law enforcement agencies to work together to make the roads safer for all travelers during the holidays and throughout the year.

“Dangerous driving results in terrible accidents that cost money and unfortunately, sometimes even lives. The holidays are a particularly dangerous time on the roads and should not end in tragedy,” said Isakson. “We must do a better job of educating all drivers to be safer on the road at all times, and I am proud to join with Senators Chambliss and Pryor to once again designate one of the biggest travel days of the year as ‘Drive Safer Sunday.”

“As a father and a grandfather, I share the concern families have when their loved ones are traveling on the road,” said Chambliss. “It is my hope that this resolution will serve as a reminder to all those traveling during the Thanksgiving holidays, and all year long, to be safe, vigilant and alert.”

Isakson and Chambliss have introduced similar resolutions in previous years in honor of Cullum Owings, a Georgia college student who died in 2002 in a traffic accident on his way back to school after Thanksgiving. Steve and Susan Owings of Atlanta, the parents of Cullum Owings, founded an organization called Road Safe America in honor of their son to bring awareness of the hazards of highway travel and provide statistics and safety tips to drivers. Road Safe America’s goals include better driver training for all drivers and limiting the top speed for large trucks.


For more information on safe driving tips and what you can do to improve the safety of America’s roadways please visit: www.roadsafeamerica.org.