CULLMAN —
The bevy of travel precautions and advisories issued by law enforcement and motorists’ organizations for the long Thanksgiving weekend may have benefited Cullman County, with police reporting no serious accidents through Saturday evening.
Cullman assistant police chief Craig Green said Saturday the weekend had been “routine” — so far.
“There was an accident with a possible intoxicated driver involved, and that is under investigation,” said Green. “There were no injuries — just the possibility that it may have involved a drunk driver. It’s been a quiet couple of days.”
Similarly, the Cullman County sheriff’s office reported no major incidents through Saturday.
“Fortunately, we’ve just had a quiet weekend,” said sheriff Mike Rainey. “I hope it stays that way for everyone, and that everybody who’s traveling makes it home safely. I know traffic is expected to be heavy. People should just buckle up and drive with caution. No texting; no drinking and driving. Remember to look out for the other driver, and report any unsafe activity by calling 911.”
The Decatur post of the Alabama State Troopers also reported no serious accidents in Cullman County Saturday.
Both city and county police took steps to prepare for a busy travel weekend, putting additional patrol units in service until the holiday weekend comes to an official end tonight.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) had projected Thanksgiving motor traffic to swell by nearly one percent over the same number of travelers last year, estimating 43.6 million Americans would drive 50 miles or farther from their homes. The uptick marks a four-year trend since 2008, when a down economy and high fuel prices combined to slash the number of Thanksgiving road trippers by 25 percent.
AAA defines the Thanksgiving weekend as the period from midnight Wednesday through midnight Sunday. The organization projected traffic would be heaviest on Wednesday.
* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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