The Thanksgiving Day long weekend is upon us and people will be travelling throughout the province to share this special time with family and friends.

As a result the highways will be congested and travel time will increase. This can result in frustration unless you plan ahead.

Heading out on the roads this weekend, here are a few tips to make it safer for you and your family.

• Be well rested before you head out.

• Leave a little early to allow yourself more time to reach your destination - expect your travel time to be a little longer than normal.

• Be courteous to other drivers, treat them the way you would want them to treat you.

• Be aware that at this time of the year wildlife seems to be more active – we all know what can happen when a car collides with a moose or deer.

Please stay alert.

• Don’t drive aggressively; weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, changing lanes without signaling will not get you to your destination any faster.

This type of behaviour only serves to frustrate others driving around you. It also puts you and your passengers at risk.

• Ensure everyone in your vehicle is properly buckled in. Wearing a seatbelt can increase your chances of surviving a serious crash by up to 50%.

• Stop for red lights, yellow lights and stop signs.

• Never drink and drive.

History has shown us that long weekends can be tragic.

We can’t change the past – but we can affect the future. Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility; make sure you do your part.

We all have something to be thankful for every day – let’s make sure that we’re all still able to express our thanks Tuesday morning as we head off to work and school.

RCMP Traffic Services – Committed to making British Columbia’s roadways the safest in the world.