Atlantic County kicks off holiday season with annual Operation Thanksgiving

Nov, 24-2009 1:48 pm

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, 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,” he said. “Awareness efforts such as ‘Operation Thanksgiving’ are an excellent way to reinforce the need to drive alert, sober and buckled.”

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 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25. Officers will be handing out incentives that include buckle-up key chains, pens, flashing buttons, coloring and activity books, bike reflectors, bike safety slide guides, emergency stickers, 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 and members of the Atlantic County Highway Safety Task Force will be visiting local radio stations during morning drive time on Nov. 25, promoting “Operation Thanksgiving.”

The Thanksgiving holiday period officially begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29. In 2008 there were nine people killed in traffic crashes in New Jersey during the four-day Thanksgiving holiday. Alcohol and/or drugs were factors in three deaths. Seven people were killed in six traffic crashes in 2007, including one death in a motorcycle crash in Hamilton Township, Atlantic County. Alcohol was a contributing factor in that fatal crash.

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 Year’s Day.

For information contact Atlantic County Director of Highway Safety and Community Affairs Michael Schurman at (609) 407-6739 or cell (609) 287-7324.















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