Denver, CO – As thousands of Coloradans prepare to hit the road this Thanksgiving Week, the Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado State Patrol want to remind motorists to enjoy the holiday, slow down, drive sober and buckle up on every trip.

“There’s nothing more devastating than telling someone that their loved one died in a crash, and knowing that they may have survived if they had been wearing a seat belt,” said Col. Mark Trostel, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “I urge everyone to take two seconds to buckle up and make sure your passengers are too. And don’t even think about driving if you’ve been drinking. Law enforcement will be out patrolling to help insure everyone has a safe holiday.”

In 2005, nationally, 732 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes during the Thanksgiving travel season, and half were not wearing seat belts. In Colorado, 10 people died in crashes between Nov. 18-26, 2006, and eight of the victims were not buckled up.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re headed across the country or just a few blocks away, buckle up every trip, every time,” said Pam Hutton, CDOT governor’s representative for highway safety. “The loss of a loved one is a terrible thing to experience, especially around the holidays.  Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from being killed in a car accident.”