Be Safe Driving and Boating this Memorial Day

As you enjoy the long Memorial Day holiday weekend please be safe.  Many people will be driving to visit friends and family or spending time on area lakes.  Whatever it is, Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols encourages everyone to follow this safety advice.  “Watch your speed, don’t speed, especially if you are visiting and not familiar with the roads here and the curves.  Wear your safety belt, if you were to be in a crash your chances of survival or being less injured go up wearing that safety belt.  Of course, if you have children, have them in their car seats.  Don’t drive under the influence of any alcohol or drug, whether an illegal drug or a legal drug such as prescriptions.  Put your cellphone down, a lot of people get distracted by that and are still holding a phone when they shouldn’t be so distracted driving like even eating a hamburger.  Of course, obey all the traffic laws.  Also, Memorial Day weekend is the first kickoff on our lakes area as far as people coming up and enjoying our lakes area.  So, I encourage everybody out on a boat to watch yourself and yours, obey the rules of the water.  Don’t operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs either.  Wear your life-safety vests and your flotation devices.  Make sure you have all your required equipment on board when you are out in the boat.”  Troopers and local law enforcement investigated 17 fatal traffic crashes resulting in 20 deaths across Georgia during the 2021 Memorial Day holiday travel period.