The holiday season will soon be here and with it comes challenges for driving safely - from roads affected by winter weather to extra traffic as families and friends gather to celebrate.

With Thanksgiving kicking off a very merry time of year, it’s essential to take some time to remind your employees that impairment from alcohol begins with the first drink.

To keep your employees safe and healthy, here are a few things for employers to keep in mind:

1. If alcohol is served at your holiday parties, you should also offer rides to and from the event so no one is tempted to drive after drinking. Someone who’s been drinking shouldn’t be making decisions about driving; that’s why planning ahead is key.
2. Remind employees of your company's policy about safe vehicle use on the job.
3. Encourage employees to drive sober when they are off the clock, too. After all, getting a DUI and/or being involved in a wreck would mean having to take time off of work to deal with the many legal, medical, and financial consequences.

Some may use the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend to indulge in drug use. It is vital to remember that whether the drug is legal or illegal, drug-impaired driving poses a threat to the driver, passengers, and other road users.

Help us spread this lifesaving message: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.

1. If you plan to use marijuana or other drugs, do not drive. Designate a sober driver who won’t be using drugs, or use public transportation or a ride-sharing service.
2. It doesn’t matter what term you use: If a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, or stoned, he or she is impaired and should never get behind the wheel. Whether the drug is legal or not, drug-impaired driving poses a threat to the driver, passengers, and other road users.
3. If you think driving while high from marijuana won’t affect you, you are wrong: It has been shown that marijuana slows reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.

Repairs Are Free – Ignoring Recalls Can Be Costly

More than 50 million vehicles on the nation’s roadways have unrepaired, open recalls that can lead to costly damages and put occupants at a safety risk.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is joining the National Safety Council (NSC) in encouraging vehicle owners to use the Check To Protect program, which allows free repairs through an authorized dealer.

“What you don’t know can hurt you,” said Gary Herman, KDOT Behavioral Safety Manager, Bureau of Transportation Safety. “All car owners should regularly check for safety recalls, especially going into winter in Kansas. Failing vehicle parts can lead to life threatening injuries.”

The NSC warns vehicle owners to not assume recall notices will be sent by mail. Owners of older, used or vehicles not regularly seen for routine maintenance can be difficult to track down.

Checking a recall status should be part of routine vehicle maintenance and done at least twice a year.

A vehicle license plate or the vehicle identification number (VIN) is required. VIN numbers are on the driver’s side dashboard or on vehicle registration/insurance documents. Then go to the Check To Protect website, https://checktoprotect.org. Anyone with a recall will be prompted to schedule a free repair at a dealer.

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s KanDrive website is now available to download as an App on Android and iOS phones.

KanDrive provides travelers with timely details on maintenance and construction activities, winter highway conditions, flooded roadways, incidents and crashes affecting traffic.

The new app includes all account features on the KanDrive website. It offers real time, high-quality streaming of camera views across the state. The truckers’ mode for commercial vehicle operators is still an option and now announces rest stop parking availability. The app also has a hands-free/eye-free feature that announces upcoming traffic events while traveling. Just tap the Tell Me sound icon in the top right corner to get announcements of upcoming events (feature requires location sharing).

First responders, delivery workers, or traveling to meet with clients - if driving is part of your job, it's your responsibility to make safety a priority to protect yourself and those around you.

To be featured in our newsletter, send your social media post to [email protected] or tag @DriveSafeKansas when posting it on social media.