Applaud Senate passage of ‘Drive Safer Sunday’ resolution designed to bring attention to busy holiday travel

U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and David Perdue, R-Ga., today applauded the passage of their resolution in the Senate designating one of the busiest highway traffic days of the year, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, as “Drive Safer Sunday.”

This year, on November 27, 2016, Isakson and Perdue are urging holiday travelers to “Drive Safer Sunday” as the busy road travel season begins. The resolution is designed to help bring additional awareness to drivers and encourage 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 as the high volume of vehicles on America’s highways and interstates increases the risk for dangerous or fatal accidents.

“Each year, I introduce this resolution with the hope that drivers will slow down and spend a little extra time if necessary to reach their destination safely,” said Isakson. “I also extend my special thanks to first responders, medical professionals and all those who spend the holidays helping their fellow man.”

“With these next few days being the busiest travel time of the year, I am proud to join Senator Isakson in urging travelers to be extra cautious this holiday season when driving to celebrate with their loved ones,” said Perdue. “I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season, and our thanks go out to our law enforcement officers for all they do to keep us safe.”

Isakson and Perdue were joined by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., in introducing the resolution.

During the holiday season, large truck volume increases along with personal vehicles. For several years Isakson has called on the Department of Transportation to improve road safety by requiring heavy trucks to use speed limiting technology to reduce the violence of crashes and save lives. He introduced an amendment that was included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2016 that directs the administration to complete the rule-making process to cap maximum speeds and is expected to soon be published by the Department of Transportation.

Isakson has introduced similar “Drive Safer Sunday” 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.