The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is getting out some messages ahead of the busy holiday travel period.
Executive Director Dave Kerner says to ensure everyone arrives safely at their Thanksgiving destinations, "those planning to travel should take precautions and check their vehicles before embarking on long journeys. And once behind the wheel, drivers should remain patient, calm, focused and unimpaired."
Data from the Department shows that there were over 7,300 crashes along Florida's roads between the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving last year. 43 of those crashes resulted in death.
The agency has several tips and resources aimed at making holiday travel safe at its website.