With the Thanksgiving holiday rapidly approaching and some students returning home for the holidays, West Virginia Universitys Department of Public Safety wants to remind students to travel safely.

Here are a few tips that should help to reduce problems if traveling by car:

  • Always wear your seat belt.
  • Bring sufficient money for gas, and plan to take extra emergency money for unexpected problems.
  • Call your parents/family members to let them know when you are leaving and when they should expect you to arrive. If you are delayed for any reasoncall and let them know youll be late.
  • If you have car problems, pull well off the roadway, activate the emergency flashers, stay in your car, raise the hood and place a handkerchief or cloth out of the window to alert an officer that you need assistance.
  • Remember that winter road conditions can change quickly and without warning. Slushy or wet road surfaces can turn to ice in a matter of minutes. Road surfaces on bridges tend to freeze more quickly than other road surfaces. Avoid aggressive drivers or aggressive driving. Avoid following too closely, and always try to leave a large safety cushion between your vehicle and the vehicles around you.
  • Respect the speed limits and traffic laws, reduce your vehicles speed to compensate for changing road conditions, leave your headlights oneven in the daylight.
  • Drive safely and have a safe and happy holiday.

Lt. Randy Friend also wants to warn students that incidents of theft on campus increase at this time of year.

Leaving property unattended, even for a few minutes, is all the time it takes for a thief to steal your property,he said.If you forget to lock your residence hall door, storage locker or vehicleor if you leave property unprotectedyou may become an easy target. Dont let a thief ruin your holiday.

Thanksgiving break for students is the week of Nov. 21; classes resume Nov. 28. The University is closed Nov. 23-25.