November is the month we stop and count our blessings. Family, friends, a plate piled high with turkey and stuffing, and maybe a few days off school. But here at Road Radio USA, November also means something else: the start of the busiest, riskiest stretch of the year on our roads.
So before you crank up the holiday playlist, let’s talk about what it really means to be thankful, and how one decision can decide whether everyone makes it to the table.
A Second Chance Worth Being Thankful For
For Jimbo in Stereo, gratitude isn’t just a Thanksgiving word. It’s personal.
In February 1984, Jim was a high school senior riding in a car with three friends. The driver had been drinking. The car crashed, and Jim’s friend in the front passenger seat was killed. Jim was flown by MedEvac to Geisinger Medical Center with three crushed vertebrae, paralyzed and in a coma that lasted more than three months. Doctors told his family he might not survive, let alone walk again.
He did both. After surgery after surgery and countless hours of physical therapy, Jim walked. And he decided his second chance needed to mean something. That decision became Road Radio USA, which has now been Mixin’ the Music with the Message for over 30 years.
Every Thanksgiving, Jim is grateful to be here. He also remembers the friend who never got another holiday at home. That’s the part of the story we want every student to hear.
The Facts: Why Thanksgiving Week Is So Dangerous
Thanksgiving week is one of the deadliest stretches of the year for drunk driving, and it starts the night before the turkey. That night, Wednesday, November 25 this year, is often called “Blackout Wednesday” or “Drinksgiving,” when people home for the holiday reunite and celebrate.
Here’s what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports:
- From 2020 to 2024, 910 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes over Thanksgiving, more than one-third (36%) of all traffic deaths during the holiday.
- 164 people died in drunk-driving crashes during the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday alone (6 p.m. Wednesday to 5:59 a.m. Monday).
- Drivers ages 21 to 34 had the highest involvement (37%) in fatal drunk-driving crashes on Thanksgiving 2024.
That last one matters for teens. Those drivers are often the older siblings, cousins, and friends home from college who offer you a ride.
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Marketing, Thanksgiving facts
Your Holiday Game Plan: Make the Informed Call
We’re not here to wag our fingers. You’re smart, and the best decisions are informed ones. So here’s your Thanksgiving playlist for making it home safe:
- Plan your ride before you go. Know who’s driving you there and back, and have a backup.
- Never ride with someone who’s been drinking or using. Buzzed driving is drunk driving. If something feels off, trust it.
- Set up a code word. Agree on a text with a parent or trusted adult that means “come get me, no questions tonight.”
- Have a line ready. “I’m good, thanks,” “I’m driving later,” or “My mom would actually end me” all work. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.
- Look out for your crew. If a friend is about to make a dangerous choice, speak up or get an adult. That’s what real friends do.
Saying no to underage drinking isn’t about missing out. It’s about making sure you’re around for every holiday still to come.
For Parents and Educators
The days before Thanksgiving break are a perfect window to start the conversation. Students are already thinking about time off, parties, and family gatherings.
- Parents: Use the drive to Grandma’s or the walk after dinner to talk openly. Ask questions, listen, and offer that “no questions asked” ride home.
- Educators: Take five minutes before break to remind students to plan a safe ride, and share this post with families.
- Everyone: Model the behavior. Teens notice who drives home after the holiday toast.
Bring Road Radio USA to Your School
This November, we’re thankful for the more than half a million students who’ve rocked out with us, and for every school and youth organization that’s invited us in.
With December’s holiday season right around the corner, there’s no better time to book. Road Radio USA is FREE for schools and youth organizations, live on stage or live-streamed. It’s Prevention Education that ROCKS: the music, the facts, the laughs, and Jimbo’s real story.
From all of us at Road Radio USA: Happy Thanksgiving. Be grateful, be smart, and make it home safe.