Nebraska State Patrol keeps roads safe during busy holiday travel season
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Trooper Jeff Rutan knows what to expect during holiday travel after nearly twenty years of patrolling Nebraska highways.
During a ride-along, Rutan, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol, offered insight into how highway traffic intensifies as the holiday travel season kicks off.
“We’ve been told that there will be upwards of 110 to 115 million people on the road this holiday,” he said. “That’s a lot of people driving a lot of miles and we just ask that the public cooperate with us to keep the roads safe.”
He says the key to safe travel is preparation, which troopers do at the start of every shift.
“Making sure you have what you need for that day, whether it’s a radar you’ve tested or if it’s snowing, you have your ice scraper,” Rutan said.
For the everyday driver, he advises allowing extra time, as holiday traffic can potentially double your travel time.
The Nebraska State Patrol has also noticed an increase in crashes near construction sites.
“There’s a lot of construction on the roads right now,” Rutan said. “These workers that are out there, you need to give them a break, you know, put your phones down, obey the posted speed limit. We want those workers to be home with their families during the holidays, too.”
Lastly, it’s important to stay alert and be prepared to move over when you see a vehicle pulled over.
“Anything from a police officer to an ambulance, to a broken down car; somebody trying to change a tire,” Rutan said. “You’re required to move over, give them that space and if you can’t do that safely, then just slow down for them.”
During the ride-along, this is exactly what he encountered with Matt Rathjen, who was pulled over on the highway’s shoulder due to a flat tire.
He proved to be a good example of how being prepared pays off.
“I was pretty much prepared,” Rathjen said. “I had the jack, the tire, everything to change one for the trip.”
He said that although he was able to change the tire himself, he was grateful that Rutan stopped to help amidst the dangerous conditions of being on the side of the road.
“You get out, do what you have to do, and hug tight to the car; that traffic is moving pretty quick,” Rathjen said. “My hat’s off to all the state troopers here in Nebraska, they do an awesome job.”
