Jason Britsch, public information officer for the TxDOT Amarillo District, said nobody has gone a day without a roadway death since then. The campaign encourages drivers to take steps to prevent crashes and deaths. TxDOT officials said even one fatality is too many.
Britsch said the campaign aims to highlight the statewide problem and its effect on the Amarillo area. Jason Love, public information officer for the Amarillo Fire Department, said these are preventable crashes. He said driving safely takes personal responsibility.
TxDOT's safety reminders are simple. Buckle up and avoid distractions. Drive at safe speeds. Get a sober ride. Move over or slow down for emergency vehicles.
Andrea's Project and its Safe Ride initiative back up the sober ride part. Since April, the initiative has sponsored 37 events and provided more than 263 Uber rides to and from events in Amarillo, said Michael DeBault, a member of the project. Amarillo Police Sgt. Eric Vaughn, who is part of the department's DUI task force, said people should arrange a sober ride before going out. A designated driver who takes everyone works too, he said. People can request an Uber through a form at andreasprojecttx.org.