Police are reminding travelers before hitting the road for the holidays, buckle up

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Hundreds of people are getting ready to hit the road for their holiday plans. Members with the Georgia Public Safety Office says hundreds have died due to car crashes, this year.

“Think about the first thing you can do for your safety is the first thing when you get in the car, before you even start the car, all you have to do is buckle that seat belt,” Colonel Mark McDonough with the Georgia Public Safety Office said.

Almost 1,300 car crash fatalities have affected families in Georgia this year. That’s according to the Director of Georgia Office of Highway Safety Harris Blackwood.

“Half of that number of fatalities involved people who were not wearing a seat belt,” Blackwood said.

While you get ready to head out the door to spend time with family for some holiday food, football, and fun, the message is simple – buckle up. Otherwise, it can cost you your life.

“Your odds of getting injured or killed go up dramatically,” McDonough said.

Michael Morris and Bobby Grant are going home to South Georgia.

“It’s actually been pretty good this year, traffic wise. I think we got a bit of an early start,” Grant said.

Both of them and officers are expecting more traffic issues coming home Sunday.

“Coming home is always the worst part, so leaving early, especially since it’s still a work day, helps definitely to cut down on hitting some of the traffic,” Morris said.

Officers are also reminding drivers to stay off their phones and have a designated driver if you drink.