Sheriff's Department Shares Holiday Safety Tips

The McCracken County Sheriff's Department would like to remind the public of some safety tips, both on and off the road, as the holiday season approaches.

They say that law enforcement usually sees a rise in both property crimes, as well as motor vehicle collisions, during the holiday season. 

Their ultimate goal is for everyone to arrive at their destinations safely, and to also be safe within their homes to enjoy the holiday season.

Safety Tips at Home:

· Keep all doors and windows of homes and vehicles locked and secured. Additionally, be mindful of leaving items of value or wrapped gifts in plain view within vehicles.

· Online shopping has become a popular trend. With this trend comes the opportunity for thieves to steal packages left unattended outside of homes. If a parcel is expected, request signature delivery confirmation, have it delivered to your place of business, or picked up by a trusted neighbor.

· Be creative in disposing of boxes and wrapping of high value items. Leaving a box out by the road puts thieves on notice as to what could be inside a home.

· If traveling during this holiday season, be mindful of posting travel plans or locations on social media. Many thieves monitor social media and target individuals they know are not home. Having a home regularly checked by a friend or trusted neighbor while away is a good idea.

Safety Tips on the Road:

· Ensure vehicles are properly maintained, paying close attention to the condition of the tires and brakes.

· Drive Defensively! Be mindful of following distance and speed. During the holiday, wet and icy conditions are typically experienced. Your vehicle will take additional distance to slow and stop during these conditions. With the additional traffic on the roadways, coupled with the wet conditions, it is imperative to be mindful of these factors.

· Allow plenty of time to arrive at the destination. There will be many drivers not familiar with the area, and also heavy traffic flow.

· With the holiday season comes parties and special events. Many times these events involve the consumption of adult beverages. The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office will be working the roadways in full-force, actively looking for, and arresting impaired drivers. Please use a designated driver, cab, or transportation network company such as Lyft or Uber, if consuming adult beverages.

A message from Sheriff Matt Carter:

“To date, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office has responded to and investigated 863 traffic collisions in 2019 alone. Seven of those collisions involved a fatality, and 205 involved someone being injured. The three main areas where all types of traffic collisions in the Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction occur are Lone Oak Road (US 45), Interstate 24 between the 7 mile marker and 16 mile marker, and Clarks River Road (US 60 / US 62) The top three contributing factors in all collisions investigated are failure to yield the right of way, following too closely, and unsafe speed for the conditions. These areas will experience an even heavier traffic volume than normal during this holiday season, so please drive safely and use extra caution in these areas.”

Questions regarding safe holiday season practices can be directed to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office at 270-444-4719.