The Amador Unit of the  California Highway Patrol wants to remind motorists to drive defensively during the heavily traveled Thanksgiving holiday weekend. During the last year’s Thanksgiving driving period, 60 people were killed in California, half of whom were not wearing their seat belt. More than 1,500 people were arrested for driving under the influence.

The official Thanksgiving holiday driving period begins Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 6pm and continues through Sunday, November 26. During this time the CHP will implement the Maximum Enforcement Period, putting every available officer on the road. Drivers should give themselves plenty of time to get to their destination and pack their patience. It is recommended that drivers do a safety walk-around of their vehicle and prep it for possible changing winter weather conditions. Check weather and road conditions sites on the web before starting your trip.

Local Amador CHP Officers will be hard at work looking for seatbelt and car seat violations, along with removing impaired drivers from the roads. The Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement Period is also an Operation CARE Holiday which stands for Combined Accident Reduction Effort. Operation CARE is a joint program of the nation’s highway patrols that promotes safe driving on interstate highways during holiday periods. CARE highways in California include Interstates 80, 40, 15 and 5.

According to Amador Unit Community Outreach Officer John C. Hardey this holiday draws many out of area travelers and holiday enthusiasts to the county and that equals more drivers on the roadways, less school related travel from locals and pass through drivers on their way over the mountains. According to Hardy “Our temperatures are expected to drop everywhere this holiday weekend, leading to a prevalence of black ice.

” Hardy reminds all drivers to “Remember anti lock braking systems are designed for black ice like conditions so remember to not pump the brakes if your car is equipped with this braking system.” Hardy also is reminding local residents that “Ultimately your speed should be reduced enough to allow a driver to steer their way through the black ice.” Hardy states “Make it to your destination; slow down, buckle up and enjoy your holiday.”