[DEC. 16, 2005]
SPRINGFIELD -- Citing preliminary statistics for
fatalities on Illinois highways, Illinois Department of
Transportation Secretary Timothy W. Martin and Illinois State Police
Director Larry Trent are urging Illinois drivers and their
passengers to use extra caution as 2005 draws to a close.
Preliminary statistics show that 10 more people were killed in
traffic crashes through November of 2005 than for the same time
period last year. State highways and interstates have seen a
reduction of fatalities by 9 percent, while traffic deaths on local
roads have increased by 10 percent.
"2004 was a very good year -- we had almost 100 fewer deaths than
2003 -- and we were hoping to carry that momentum through this
year," Martin said. "After a good start, we've had a tragic slide,
and that's why I am urging local police agencies to step up their
enforcement efforts. Illinois State Police have done a great job
reducing fatal crashes on our state highways and interstates, and we
are urging our local traffic safety partners to intensify their
efforts during December."
Martin recently mailed letters to police agencies throughout
Illinois detailing the current fatality information for all Illinois
counties. In his letter Martin urged local agencies to step up their
efforts on removing impaired drivers from our roadways and to take a
zero-tolerance approach to safety belt enforcement.
"The simplest thing you can do to save your life in a crash is to
buckle your seatbelt," said Trent, the police director. "Make no
mistake -- if you get pulled over by a state trooper and you are not
wearing your seat belt, you will get a ticket; end of story."
2004 saw the lowest number of traffic deaths on Illinois highways
in more than 60 years, with 1,356 people killed. Through the first
six months of 2005 Illinois was on track to record its lowest number
of traffic fatalities since 1924.
Through the first six months of this year there were 597 deaths,
compared with 638 deaths during the same time period a year ago.
Between July and November of this year, the number of traffic deaths
has increased to 1,238, 10 more than the 1,228 fatalities in same
time period last year.
On state system roads, interstates, state and U.S. routes,
traffic deaths have decreased by 54, or 9 percent, during the first
11 months of 2005, compared with the same time period last year.
However, on city streets, county and township roads, fatalities have
increased by 66, or roughly 10 percent.
The Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police are
urging motorists and police agencies alike to take a tough stand
against impaired driving during this last month of 2005.
In Illinois, 45 percent of the traffic fatalities are
alcohol-related. One way to battle the problem is a regional
approach. Beginning Dec. 9 a dozen agencies were scheduled to run
DUI saturation patrols along a 30-mile stretch of Illinois 21 --
Milwaukee Avenue -- from Gurnee to Chicago.
Martin noted that some communities have made positive strides in
reducing traffic deaths in their areas. He pointed out that Peoria
County has seen one of the largest decreases: from 39 fatalities
last year to 12 through November of this year.
"All of the law enforcement agencies in Peoria County deserve
credit because we made a conscious effort to work together to make
our streets safer through enforcement and education, and it is
paying off in lives saved," said Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy.
"We were able to work with IDOT to secure an IMAGE grant and put
more officers on the streets for stepped-up enforcement specifically
targeted to save lives."
Since Gov. Blagojevich signed the primary seat belt law in July
of 2003, fatalities have decreased while seat belt usage has
increased. Before the primary enforcement law, police could not pull
a driver over based solely on a seat belt violation. At that time,
seat belt usage was just 76 percent. Since the governor signed the
law in July of 2003, safety belt usage climbed to 83 percent in June
of 2004 and 86 percent in June of 2005.
