5 Years Ago

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is normally the busiest travel day of the year. In 2002, Cullum Owings and his younger brother were driving back to college following the holiday when a speeding tractor-trailer struck their stopped car from behind and tragically killed Cullum. Steve and Susan, Cullum’s parents, began a non-profit organization, Road Safe America, to help reduce the number of collisions between large trucks and passenger vehicles.

5 Reasons

• This year alone, 5,000 people have died in tractor-trailer related accidents.
• More than half of drivers who were killed in crashes in 2006 were unrestrained.
• The percentage of speeding-related fatalities increased in 2006 for the first time in three years.
• 130 million Americans say they would drive more than seven hours without significant breaks.
• Many people treat driving as the new "down time," engaging in distracting behaviors.

5 Tips

• Stay wide awake. Stop every hour or so, and take a break. Take a nap if needed.
• Stay Alert. When you turn on the car, turn off the gadgets, such as cell phones.
• Buckle Up. Safety belts save lives.
• Slow down and do not tailgate. You can't control other drivers, but you can do the right things.
• Be a backseat driver. Remind whoever is driving to be careful.