U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and David Perdue, R-Ga., today applauded the passage of a Senate resolution they introduced urging caution on roadways during the 2019 holiday season.

The resolution designates Dec. 1, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, as “Drive Safer Sunday.” The Sunday after Thanksgiving is among the busiest highway traffic days of the year. The resolution urges individuals throughout the holiday season to “drive in a safe manner so as to reduce deaths and injuries that result from motor vehicle accidents” and honors the memory of a Georgia student who died on his drive back to school after Thanksgiving. 

“I wish all Georgians and Americans a safe and happy holiday season. The origin of this legislation is tragic, so it’s been important to me to introduce this ‘Drive Safer Sunday’ resolution each year to remind folks to be extra alert on our roadways during this busy time of year,” said Isakson. “I urge travelers to please heed the warnings of our law enforcement officers, and I thank those officers and our first responders who work so hard to keep us safe.”

“Ahead of this holiday season, Senator Isakson and I want to remind Georgians to slow down, be alert, and use extra caution as road traffic increases,” said Perdue. “I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season with loved ones. Our thanks go out to law enforcement officers and first responders working around the clock to keep all Georgians safe.” 

The resolution encourages everyone – including learning institutions, trucking firms, clergy and law enforcement – to promote safe driving habits and work together to help make roads safer for travelers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that simply wearing a seat belt saves as many as 15,000 lives a year. 

Isakson and Perdue were joined by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.V., Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in introducing the resolution. 

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

Background:

Cullum Owings was a Georgia college student when he died in 2002 in a traffic crash on his way back to school after Thanksgiving. Isakson has introduced this “Drive Safer Sunday” Senate resolution for several years in his memory.  

To honor their son and bring awareness to the hazards of highway travel, Cullum Owings’ parents, Steve and Susan Owings of Atlanta, founded an organization called Road Safe America. Road Safe America provides statistics and safety tips to drivers, and its goals include better driver training for all drivers as well as promoting safety technology and limiting the top speed for heavy trucks. Earlier this year, Isakson and Coons introduced legislation to require commercial truckers to use speed limiting technology to improve safety.

For more information on safe driving tips and what you can do to improve the safety of America’s roadways please visit:www.roadsafeamerica.org.