Lauren Estes-Velez

Hartselle Enquirer

With the holiday season approaching, the Alabama Department of Transportation has some safety tips to follow to help with the hustle and bustle of holiday travel.

• Always wear a seatbelt, including passengers in front and rear seats. The odds greatly favor those wearing seat belts. The latest data show that about 60 percent of Alabamians who die in vehicle crashes were not buckled up. In comparison, about 98 percent of people involved in vehicle crashes that are unharmed were reported to have been wearing their seat belts.

• Slow down. Speeding is the leading cause of fatal crashes in Alabama.

• Drive alert when traveling through highway work zones. Even when workers aren’t present, lanes in a work zone can shift, or grooves in the road can alter the way a vehicle handles. So, it’s important to pay attention to changing conditions and maintain a safe distance around other vehicles.

For more safe driving tips, visit the Drive Safe Alabama Facebook page.