This week, we’re talking about one of the most overlooked parts of holiday driving: the men and women out on the road keeping everyone safe when risk is at its highest. December brings family, celebration, and travel — but it also brings more DUIs, more drowsy drivers, and more people rushing on limited sleep.
I share a late-night moment on Highway 50 here in Central Florida that reminded me how easily danger hides in plain sight… and how quickly a trained officer can pick up what the rest of us miss.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why Highway Patrol and local police double enforcement from Thanksgiving through New Year’s
• How officers spot impaired, drowsy, or distracted drivers that look “normal” to everyone else
• Why “dark drivers” with no headlights are more common — and more dangerous — than you think
• What my years as a traffic reporter taught me about how troopers actually work behind the scenes
• How simply moving over, slowing down, or giving space literally helps them stay alive
• The specific times of day when risks spike (midnight–3 a.m., Friday evenings, pre-holiday rush)
• Simple holiday-season habits that drastically reduce your risk
This is one of the most important episodes of the year — a reminder that those blue lights aren’t just enforcing laws. They’re protecting families, saving lives, and keeping the holidays intact for the rest of us.
If you have your own story of a trooper showing up at the perfect time, send it my way: FreewayTrafficExpert@gmail.com
Drive smart. Stay safe. And catch you next week.
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Host
Randy A Keith
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