If you are planning to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday period, please make sure to leave sufficient driving time to and from your destination. Doing so may keep you from seeing a flashing blue light in your rearview mirror.

State Troopers and other law enforcement personnel plan to fill the roadways of Alabama today as part of the state’s “Take Back Our Highways” program. The program will continue until midnight Wednesday.

Designed to reduce traffic-related deaths on our state highways, this week’s stepped-up patrols is the fourth time the Department of Public Safety has put the program in operation this year.

The current “Take Back our Highways” program is focusing on impaired drivers—those who choose to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, citations will be issued for speeding and other violations as well.

Receiving a speeding citation for driving a few miles over the speed limit may seem a little too tough. But we have the choice to drive within the speed limit. If we don’t, we have only ourselves to blame if we receive a speeding ticket.

State Troopers are using mobile DUI-testing labs that will make testing of those driving under the influence more convenient. Just like speeding, if you don’t want to have to worry about being pulled over and tested for DUI, drive properly and do not drive after you have been drinking. It is as simple as that.

The number of people traveling this Thanksgiving holiday season has been predicted to be much less than most Thanksgiving seasons. The “Take Back our Highways” program and fewer drivers on the roadways should have a major impact on the number of fatalities that occur during this period.

We all can do our part to help as well by obeying driving laws, especially the one that prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

I had much rather use the money I earn on Christmas gifts than paying for a speeding ticket. I bet you would, too.