CHP Reminds San Diego Drivers To 'Click It Or Ticket' Ahead Of Thanksgiving Travel

SAN DIEGO, CA — The California Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to buckle up as they travel for the Thanksgiving holiday in San Diego County and across the state.

The CHP's annual Thanksgiving "Holiday Enforcement Period" is slated to begin at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday and run through 11:59 p.m. Sunday. During this period, CHP officers will be on patrol to help ensure motorists obey traffic laws, wear seat belts and drive safely.

"Thanksgiving is a time to be with family and friends, not to mourn a preventable tragedy," CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a statement. "Seat belts remain one of the most effective tools for saving lives on our roadways. Taking just two seconds to buckle up could be the decision that saves your life or the life of someone you love."

During last year's Thanksgiving HEP, 36 people died in crashes across the state, according to the CHP. Within the agency's jurisdiction, 14 vehicle occupants were killed and six of them were not wearing a seat belt. CHP officers also made more than 1,100 arrests for driving under the influence during the same 102-hour holiday enforcement effort.