 The governor also is calling on all Illinois cities, towns and
villages to join the state in reminding the public about the dangers
posed by drunk and drugged drivers during the holidays.
"The holidays are a special time to celebrate with family and
friends. But we must also remember to be safe and responsible.
Designating a driver can help prevent accidents and save lives," the
governor said. "But we're also making sure our roads are safe during
this holiday season, by having state police, IDOT and the tollway
work together to detect impaired drivers, get them off the road and
prevent them from putting their lives and the lives of others in
danger."
The roadside safety checks and saturation patrols are funded
through grants from IDOT's Division of Traffic Safety, as part of
the national "You Drink and Drive. You Lose" campaign.
"This holiday season, all of law enforcement will be mindful of the
threat impaired drivers place on every family," said Illinois State
Police Director Larry G. Trent. "The Illinois State Police will team
up with more than 170 law enforcement agencies to crack down on
those who become impaired and then choose to get behind the wheel.
The majority of traffic fatalities during last year's Christmas and
New Year's weekends were alcohol-related. In an effort to change
that statistic, the ISP will be conducting special patrols targeting
impaired drivers. We are hopeful drivers will make the responsible
decision not to drive while impaired so law enforcement officers
don't have to make that decision for them."
Last year in December in Illinois, there were 32 alcohol-related
fatalities. During the 2006 Christmas holiday weekend alone, eight
out of the 10 motor vehicle crash fatalities that occurred involved
at least one driver with alcohol in his or her system. During the
2006 New Year's weekend, six out of 13 fatalities were
alcohol-related.
Overall, 2006 was the safest year on Illinois roads since 1924,
with a total of 1,254, which was 109 fatalities fewer than the year
before. This year, as of Dec. 10, the state is on pace to set a new
low since 1924, with 24 fewer fatalities than through the same date
last year.
"Under the leadership of Governor Blagojevich, Illinois saw a
historic reduction in the number of traffic fatalities last year,"
said IDOT Secretary Milton R. Sees. "But the tragic fact remains
that 47 percent of those fatalities were alcohol-related and thus
may have been preventable. IDOT is proud to support the efforts of
the Illinois State Police and local police in combating impaired
drivers. The message is simple: You Drink and Drive. You Lose."
[to top of second column]
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State officials recommend the following steps to keep drunk drivers
off the roads and ensure a safe and festive holiday for everyone:
-
Plan a safe way
home before the festivities begin.
-
Before drinking,
please designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.
-
If you're impaired,
use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public
transportation to ensure you get home safely.
-
If you happen to
see a drunk driver on the road, call 911 or contact local law
enforcement.
-
And remember, if you know someone who
is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and
help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going
safely.
Following is the text of the governor's proclamation:
WHEREAS, driving
under the influence of mind-altering drugs is a grave problem that
destroys individual lives, rips families apart, and strains local
communities; and
WHEREAS, motor
vehicle crashes killed 1,254 people in Illinois during 2006; and
WHEREAS, 47 percent
of those deaths were in alcohol-related crashes; and
WHEREAS, driving
under the influence of alcohol and drugs also causes staggering
economic costs. Billions of dollars are spent for property damage
and healthcare every year as a direct result of alcohol- and
drug-related automobile accidents; and
WHEREAS, today, the
terrible consequences of driving under the influence of
mind-altering drugs are widely acknowledged, and the government and
private sector are actively engaged in campaigns to address the
problem; and
WHEREAS, the
December holiday season is a traditionally on of the deadliest times
of the year for impaired driving. Consequently, communities and
organizations all across our state and throughout the country are
joined with the "You Drink & Drive. You Lose." and other campaigns
that foster public awareness of the dangers of impaired driving; and
WHEREAS, the State
of Illinois is proud to partner with cities, towns and villages, and
traffic safety organizations in an effort to make our roads and
streets safer;
THEREFORE, I, Rod
R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby
proclaim December 2007 as Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
in Illinois, and urge all citizens to drive responsibly so that no
one else becomes a victim of drunk or drugged driving.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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