 The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and
local law enforcement agencies are coordinating the statewide law
enforcement crackdown. In total, 193 enforcement agencies will
participate in the crackdown and 12,268 total enforcement hours will
be used. The crackdown will be in conjunction with the Operation
Save 100 Initiative, aimed at saving 100 lives by the end of 2009.
The enforcement crackdown is coupled with a new public service
announcement titled "Cops Everywhere," which features Illinois State
Police and local law enforcement officials reminding motorists to
always buckle up.
"We are proud to work with state and local law enforcement to
help decrease the number of fatalities in Illinois and encourage
more motorists to buckle up," Hannig said.
"Buckling your safety belt saves lives and is also the best
defense against an impaired driver."
This year marks the sixth anniversary of the primary safety belt
law, which was enacted in 2003. During that time statewide safety
belt compliance has increased 15.5 percentage points, from 76.2
percent in 2003 to 91.7 percent in 2009. Highway fatalities in
Illinois have plummeted from a high of 1,454 in 2003 to lows not
seen since 1923. The downward trend has accelerated, with highway
fatalities figures down on a provisional basis as of Nov. 10, from
883 at this time last year to 781.
"The Illinois State Police will remain diligent in our ongoing
efforts to reduce fatalities on Illinois roadways, especially during
the upcoming holiday season," said Illinois State Police Director
Jonathon Monken. "Our officers are determined to reduce fatalities
and achieve a record-low fatality rate during 2009 by enforcing
safety belt and child safety seat laws during the Click It or Ticket
mobilization."
During this campaign, hundreds of local, state and county law
enforcement agencies are dedicating thousands of hours of
enforcement details from Nov. 13 to Nov. 29. Additionally, the
Illinois campaign is supported by a projected $600,000 in paid
advertising.
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Nationally, nighttime is the most dangerous time with lack of safety
belt use, according to NHTSA statistics. During the 2008
Thanksgiving holiday, 67 percent of the 231 passenger vehicle
occupant nighttime crashes were unbelted (based on known restraint
use) while 40 percent of the fatalities from daytime crashes were
not wearing safety belts. When worn correctly, safety belts reduce
the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45
percent and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.
IDOT's Division of Traffic Safety will focus on raising the
nighttime safety belt compliance by challenging law enforcement
agencies to hold 50 percent of enforcement at night.
Regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to
protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes,
according to NHTSA. Research has shown that when lap and shoulder
belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat
passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of
moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.
In conjunction with the Click It or Ticket enforcement crackdown
around the Thanksgiving holiday, Operation Save 100 officially began
on Nov. 12 and will run through the end of 2009. During this
eight-week enforcement campaign, more than 400 law enforcement
agencies have been asked to enhance operations and provide weekly
activity and crash reports. The earned media campaign will consist
of television and radio interviews, biweekly press releases,
periodic news conferences, and community activities statewide.
For more information on the Click It or Ticket campaign or to
download outreach materials for use in your community, visit
www.buckleupillinois.org.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Transportation
file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
