About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 2019)
The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, November 20,2019, Page 7A Buckle Up Before Getting on the Road this Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period Law enforcement warning everyone to buckle up whether traveling near or far Special to the Ledger The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and Georgia State Patrol remind drivers and pas sengers that the recipe for safe driving starts with buckling their seat- belt before every trip. Those who do not comply with Georgia’s seatbelt law may come down with a case of “Click It or Ticket” in digestion since state and local law enforcement will be issuing cita tions during increased Thanksgiving travel period patrols. “Troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance officers will be out in full force during this Thanksgiving holi day period,” Georgia Department of Public Safety Commissioner Col. Mark McDonough said. “Thanksgiving is one of the most widely traveled holidays of the year and because of that, motorists should expect heavier traffic through out the holiday. In order to make traveling safer, motorists should drive the legally posted speed limit, have every person in their vehicle properly restrained, and never drive distracted or im paired.” Why is it so import ant? Because during the 2017 Thanksgiving travel period (6 p.m. on Wednesday, Novem ber 22 to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, November 27), 365 people were killed in traffic crashes nation wide. Nighttime proved even more deadly as it accounted for 57 per cent of crashes during the Thanksgiving travel period. In 2018, traffic crashes across Georgia during the 102-hour Thanks giving travel period (6 p.m. on November 22 to 11:59 p.m. on Novem ber 25) resulted in 15 fatalities. In addition to the crashes, the Georgia State Patrol alone issued 11,523 citations, 17,046 warnings and arrested 339 people for driving under the influence. The best defense against all of those careless drivers is a buckled seatbelt. “More than half the people killed in traffic crashes in Georgia last year were not wearing a seatbelt and many of those who died likely would be alive today had they clicked that seat- belt,” GOHS Director Allen Poole said. “Driv ers need to make sure all children are buckled up and kids under the age of 8 are riding, as Geor gia law requires, in the child safety or booster seat that is recommend ed for their size and weight.” Law enforcement are also reminding everyone to make sure they make it to the dinner table by not drinking and driv ing. Thanksgiving Eve has become a popular time for many to go out to see hometown friends and too many times these nights end in tragedy. According to NHTSA, there have been more alcohol-re lated fatal crashes surrounding the Thanks giving holiday weekend than any other holiday period during the year. If alcohol is part of the reunion plans, family members and friends need to arrange a sober ride home before the night begins. “Don’t let a DUI crash ruin what is supposed to be a great time of fel lowship with family and friends,” Poole said. “Be a good friend by making sure that no one gets behind the wheel when they are under the influ ence of alcohol or drugs. The best way to do that is to make that plan for a sober ride home before the night begins.” Another option for those who are too im paired to drive is AAA’s Tow-To-Go program, which will be offering free tows and rides up to 10 miles from Wednes day, Nov. 27 to 6 a..m. on Sunday, Dec. 1 this year. Those interest ed in the free ride can visit https://autoclub- south.aaa.com/safety/ tow to go.aspx for more information or call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO. The good news is all motorists can use the following tips to stay safe, focused, sober and patient while traveling: Plan ahead for a sober ride. Arrange for a designated driver, use a rideshare service or program the numbers for cab companies into your phone. You can also plan to use public transporta tion, but check schedules ahead of time in case service is altered during the holiday. Don’t try to make up time by speeding. Because of extra traffic on the road, leave for your destination earlier than needed to allow for increased travel time. Make sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing their seat belt and all children under 8 are rid ing in an approved child passenger safety seat or Special to the Ledger by Gail Drake As much as we may en joy them, it may surprise some Americans that there are more traditions to Thanksgiving than turkey, pumpkin pie and endless football. In fact, Thanksgiving harvest celebrations abound across the globe — from Toronto to Tel Aviv. Canada. The very first Thanksgiving in North America was celebrat ed over 40 years before that historic feast with the Pilgrims and their Indian friends. In 1578, English navigator Martin Frobisher held a cele bration meal in what is now Nunavut, a mas sive chain of northern frost-bitten Canadian islands. The sailors gave thanks for their safety during their voyages. Canada’s Parliament established a national Thanksgiving Day in 1879, which was later changed to the second Monday in October. Ca nadians celebrate much the same as their south ern neighbors - turkey dinner with family and Canadian football. Malaysia. Living on another vast chain of islands, Malaysians be lieve “without rice there is no life.” The Kadazan Festival, celebrated in May, honors their god and creator, Bambaazon. According to their rather dark tradition, their god sacrificed his own daughter in order to save people who would suffer from starvation. He buried parts of her across the land, and her body became the seedbed for rice paddies. Today Malaysians still believe the rice grain holds the spirit of life and cre ation. Their festival is filled with buffalo races, agriculture shows and rice wine. Germany. On a lighter note, Ger mans cel ebrate Ern- tedankfest in their churches, where both Catho lics and Protestants hold sever al services on the first Sunday in October. To give thanks for the year’s harvest, parishioners carry to church giant woven baskets filled with fruit, grains and vegetables, where they are blessed then given to the poor. In the eve nings they enjoy later- nenumzuge, or lantern parades for children. Ghana, West Africa. Homowo is an African festival in hopes of plen tiful crops in the com ing year. Celebrated in September, the Festival of Yams centers on their most prized vegetable, with families competing to produce the biggest crop. Entire families and villages come together for dancing and singing (while wearing animal masks) and eating. Gail Drake China. When the moon is its brightest and fullest, on the 15th day of the 8th lunar calendar month, China celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festi val. Also called the Moon Festival, this three- day event was first celebrated during the Shang Dynasty around 1600 B.C. with prayers, po ems and offerings to the Moon Goddess, Chang’e. Chinese cele brants today “appreciate the moon” by gathering around tables, eating moon cakes (distinct from moon pies) and dancing under festival lanterns. Korea. The Chuseok Harvest festival is held at the same time in Korea but emphasizes the commemoration of ancestors. Families hold memorials at the graves of relatives, then cele brate with family activ ities of archery, musical competitions and din ners of rice cakes, taro soup and mushrooms. Israel. The Biblical holiday of Sukkot, held during a similar lunar calendar, commemorates the Israelites’ struggle during their 40-years of wandering after the exodus from slavery in Egypt. “Sukkot” means booths, referring to tem porary tents set up for a seven-day feast, referred to in Jewish literature as the “Season of our Rejoicing.” So let’s pass the turkey, sweet potato casserole and pecan pie, and take time to truly give thanks to our God and Creator who “daily loads us with benefits.” He “redeems our life from destruction and crowns us with lov ing kindness and tender mercies.” Psalm 103:4 “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever!” Psalm 107:1 Gail Drake practice probate, adoption, medi ation and children’s law in Lee County, GA. booster seat. Limit driver distrac tions by staying off phones. Program GPS before you get on the road or have a passenger be in charge of naviga tion. 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