Traffic safety community wishing for fatality-free holidays      

Law enforcement agencies team up to get impaired drivers off the roads during holiday season

[DEC. 22, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Members of Illinois' traffic safety community, including representatives of the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police, announced a crackdown targeting impaired drivers during the 2005 holiday season. Last year, 1,356 people were killed on Illinois roads, and almost half of those people were killed in crashes where alcohol was a factor.

"We're teaming up with the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement around the state in doing what we can to make this a 'Fatality Free Holiday Season,' because no person should have this joyous time of year marred by the death of a loved one," Department of Transportation Secretary Timothy W. Martin said. "We're taking the message to the public: If you drink and drive, you lose. At best, you'll get arrested; at worst, you'll kill a loved one, a complete stranger or yourself."

The holiday mobilization will run through Jan. 1. The Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police will team up with more than 100 local agencies to conduct approximately 1,100 saturation patrols. Saturation patrols target a specific area for heightened enforcement and are proving very effective in Illinois' battle to reduce highway fatalities.

"I think the best gift we could possibly give to the people of Illinois is a 'Fatality Free Holiday Season,'" said Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent. "We will be utilizing these saturation patrols to get impaired drivers off the road and get people to buckle up. It's common sense, but all too often people don't follow this simple advice and the results are tragic."

2004 saw the lowest number of traffic deaths on Illinois highways in more than 60 years, with 1,356 people killed. Through the first 11 months of 2005, Illinois traffic deaths in Illinois stood at 1,238, 10 more than the 1,228 from the same time period last year. On state highways, interstates 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.

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has proclaimed December as Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. In Illinois, alcohol is a factor in nearly 45 percent of all traffic fatalities. During the holiday season the Department of Transportation will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization by placing silver ribbons with "MADD Celebrates Life," printed in red on all department fleet vehicles. The department will also give away palm cards with safe party plans, for guests and hosts alike, that provide safe party tips to help make this a "Fatality Free Holiday Season."

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police remind you that the simplest thing you can do to save your life in a car crash is to buckle your seat belt. Since Blagojevich signed the primary enforcement law in July of 2003, safety belt compliance has risen by 10 percent and fatalities have dropped by nearly 100.

[Illinois Department of Transportation news release]