By Jade Morrow, Fox23 News
GREEN COUNTRY, Okla. — Between New Year’s Eve celebrations and people heading home from holiday plans, state and local law enforcement said the upcoming time period is one of the busiest and most dangerous times of the year on Oklahoma roads.
Our news partners at FOX23 spoke with several officials who are preparing for increased traffic, impaired driving and a higher risk of serious crashes during the New Year holiday period.
“When you have more people out there drinking and driving, you’re going to have an increase of collisions, an increase of DUIs and oftentimes these collisions could mean serious injury or death,” explained Captain Richard Meulenberg with the Tulsa Police Department.
New Year’s Eve celebrations are often associated with alcohol and Tulsa police said impaired drivers are not always easy to spot.
“When we think about who’s out there drinking and driving, it’s not the fall-down drunk who’s stumbling out of a bar. It’s more likely someone leaving, something that feels much more innocuous.”
The holiday also brings a surge in travel as people head home or take trips to ring in the new year.
Brenda Perry Clark with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) said traffic volumes increase significantly during the holiday period.
“Holidays do bring increased travel on our highways,” said Clark. “It is safe to say people can expect additional congestion.”
According to AAA, about 119 million people were projected to travel 50 miles or more over the year-end holiday period in 2024.
This year, AAA expects a new record with 122 million people traveling through New Year’s Day.
With those numbers, ODOT encourages drivers to plan ahead and to give themselves extra time.
Clark said, “Expect it may take a little bit longer. They can check our Drive Oklahoma app, which is a really good resource. We do have work zones they will encounter and we ask people to be extra cautious.”
Tulsa police also recommend defensive driving during the holiday.
“If you see something odd or someone weaving, stay away from that person,” Meulenberg stated. “It’s always better to back off instead of trying to pass. When a light turns green, give it a couple of counts before going through an intersection.”
For anyone who has been drinking, officers stress the importance of finding a safe ride home.
“Find a designated driver or use rideshare services like Uber or Lyft or a taxi company. They’d love to pick you up.”
Officials acknowledge that the reminders may sound familiar, but said they’re necessary.
“Sometimes the smallest extra effort can be the difference between life and death,” said Clark. “There’s nothing more important than making safety a priority.”
Several local police departments across Green Country are also offering free rides for people celebrating New Year’s Eve who cannot find a designated driver.
Information about those programs is often available on their Facebook pages.
Information for the Bartlesville Police Department’s program can be found here.
