Stay safe on highways during holiday season

The Ponca City Police Department extends its wishes for a safe holiday season.

“Please drive safely, don’t drink and drive, and always buckle up,” says PCPD’s Lieutenant Jason Filtz.

The majority of motor vehicle fatalities in Oklahoma are the result of driver behavior, he said.

Impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving and failure to wear a seatbelt are behaviors that can be changed through awareness, education and strict enforcement of traffic safety laws.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office coordinates a statewide behavioral highway safety program by making federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) available to state and local entities.

These dollars fund programs that help these groups enforce traffic laws, educate the public in traffic safety, and provide varied and effective means of reducing fatalities, injuries and economic losses from crashes.