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This week, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) will wrap up 2023 with the launch of its annual “12 Days of Safety” Campaign to run throughout the holiday season.

The campaign is a fun and festive platform designed to engage citizens and invite Agency partners to join in sharing important safety tips and reminders that can help keep Alabama’s roadways safe and merry for all.

“Often, the smallest of actions cause a ripple effect and create an enormous impact,” ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said. “We need everyone to incorporate safety into their holiday plans and help share our message because you are truly the greatest gift you can give your family. All our enforcement details, driving license checks, safety campaigns and daily operations are in an effort to protect and safeguard the citizens of Alabama and keep everyone returning home to their loved ones. We ask you to join the Agency’s efforts and give the gift of safety this holiday season.”

ALEA’s “12 Days of Safety” will begin Thursday, Dec. 21, and end Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. During this time, the Agency will share tips and information to shed light on various risky driving behaviors and their potential consequences, with a focus on drunk and impaired driving. According to data compiled by the Center for Advanced Public Safety (CAPS), 5,005 crashes occurred in 2022 because of impaired driving, and resulting in 260 lives lost in the state of Alabama. So far in 2023, impaired driving has been a contributing factor in 4,398 traffic crashes, resulting in 154 lives lost.

Additionally, the Agency strongly encourages everyone to prepare their vehicles for holiday trips by checking tires, antifreeze levels, oil, brakes, lights and hazard lights. When faced with winter challenges, preparedness is necessary for reducing roadside disasters and ensuring your journey remains hassle-free. An emergency kit should be included in every vehicle and consist of a flashlight, emergency blanket, jumper cables, cell phone charger, and water.

“We ask everyone to remain courteous on the roadways, and ring in the New Year with a pledge to make safety a top priority at all times of the year,” said ALEA’s Director of Public Safety (DPS), Colonel Jon Archer. “Tragically, there were 15 lives lost during the recent extended Thanksgiving travel period. If you are stopped by an ALEA Trooper this holiday season, please understand they are attempting to save lives by enforcing the state’s laws. Those laws are set in place to protect each citizen and visitor of this great state and reduce fatal tragedies. Seat belts and proper child restraints have been proven to save lives; speeding and distracted driving remain top contributing factors to traffic crashes; and, finally, as always, there will be a zero tolerance for driving while impaired.”

The official holiday travel period will once again span nine days beginning at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, and ending at midnight Monday, Jan. 1. During this time, ALEA’s Troopers assigned to the Highway Patrol and Marine Patrol Divisions will conduct a variety of enforcement activities, including driver license and equipment checkpoints, to curb dangerous driving behaviors such as driving under the influence, driving while distracted, not buckling up, speeding and following too closely.

Secretary Taylor added, “We wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas, as well as a safe and joyous New Year. Our Agency looks forward to a new year of protecting and serving the great state of Alabama.”

ALEA’s 12 Days of Safety Topics:

1. Thursday, Dec. 21 – Know before you go and vehicle preparedness
2. Friday, Dec. 22 – Seat-belt safety and GDL law review
3. Saturday, Dec. 23 – Distracted driving and following too closely
4. Sunday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) – Drunk driving
5. Monday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) – Rural road and short trip safety reminders
6. Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Pedestrian safety
7. Wednesday, Dec. 27 – Speeding
8. Thursday, Dec. 28 – Move Over law review and CMV safety
9. Friday, Dec. 29 – Courteous driving
10. Saturday, Dec. 30 – Impaired driving
11. Sunday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) – Drunk driving
12. Monday, Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day) – Drowsy driving after the holidays/late nights