IDOT Drink & Drive You Lose program steps up for holiday

[July 03, 2009]  CHICAGO -- On Thursday, Illinois law enforcement announced the July 4 "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" crackdown on impaired drivers as new data shows an overwhelming number of late-night motor vehicle fatalities involve a drinking driver. This Fourth of July hundreds of Illinois law enforcement agencies will join the Illinois State Police in conducting numerous additional, late-night roadside safety checks, impaired driving patrols and safety belt enforcement zones.

"We must decrease the number of crashes occurring on Illinois roadways, particularly at night, but we need help from the motoring public," said Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. "Data shows a very disproportionate number of fatal traffic crashes on Illinois roads occur late at night, and a very high percentage of these fatalities involve alcohol and motorists who have failed to buckle up. Take our advice; it could save a life."

According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the midnight to 3 a.m. time frame is the deadliest time on Illinois roads. In addition, the data also shows this time of day has the highest percentage of alcohol involvement and the lowest safety belt use. For the last four years (2005-2008), 54 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes from midnight to 3 a.m. had been drinking. The next-highest time frame for drinking drivers involved in fatal crashes was 3 a.m. to 5:59 a.m., at 41 percent.

"Impaired driving and failure to wear a seat belt are the two leading causes of death in motor vehicle crashes at night," said John Balser, deputy regional administrator of the Region 5 NHTSA office. "We believe that dual focus of seat belt and impaired driving enforcement can further reduce traffic death and injuries on Illinois roadways this Fourth of July weekend."

"The sad reality is that numerous lives are impacted every day in Illinois because of an impaired driver," said Illinois State Police Director Jonathon Monken. "Even with the raised awareness about the consequences of drinking and driving, there are still those who choose to drive while impaired. That's why the ISP will increase our enforcement efforts by working closely with our local partners during the July 4 holiday."

The "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" crackdown began June 19 and runs through July 5. It is being supported by nearly $1 million in federal safety funds being made available by IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety.

For more information about impaired driving in Illinois, visit www.drivesoberillinois.org.

(See IDOT table: "Percentage of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes Who Had Been Drinking By Time of Day")

[Text from Illinois Department of Transportation file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]