By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

As the major holiday season began this week, so does the peak travel period as thousands of Floridians hit the road to visit relatives and friends. Local police departments and the Florida Highway Patrol amped up their presence this week with Thanksgiving travelers and will continue their patrols until New Year’s.

Last year during the Thanksgiving holiday, 36 people died in vehicle-related accidents, with 16 of those crashes being alcohol-related. In 2008, 52 people died during the same time period in vehicle accidents.

“The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to making Florida’s highways safe, and we plan to do that by bolstering our forces to reduce the number and severity of crashes,” said FHP Director, Col. John Czernis. “During this hectic time, it is easy to lose your temper while driving as evidenced by recent incidents of road rage.  Our troopers are prepared to take immediate action to stop others from placing innocent lives at risk, whether the weapon is a gun or a vehicle.”

To aid fatigued travelers this holiday season, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is offering free Coffee Safety Breaks at peak travel hours in service plazas along the highway. The complementary coffee will be offered at all service plaza restaurants, except Pompano Beach, and gas stations during the following hours only:

·11 p.m., Sunday November 28 to 6 a.m., Monday November 29

·11 p.m., Friday, December 24 to 6 a.m., Saturday, December 25

· 11 p.m., Sunday, December 26 to 6 a.m., Monday, December 27

· 11 p.m., Friday, December 31 to 6 a.m., Saturday, January 1

· 11 p.m., Sunday, January 2 to 6 a.m., Monday, January 3

While the restaurants at the Pompano beach Service Plaza are closed for renovation, coffee will be available at the Shell gas station.

Additionally, the State Farm Safety Patrol Road Rangers, which help FHP clear accident scenes and provide motorists with free roadside assistance, are extending their hours for peak travel days on all major highways including the turnpike and state roads 417, 429 and 528.

Aid can be sought via call boxes located at every mile marker along the turnpike or by dialing *FHP (*347) or 911 in an emergency. If calling from a cell phone, motorists should be prepared to give the dispatcher the travel direction and an approximate mile marker location.