 Gathered at recreational waterfront sites in four cities across the
state, law enforcement officials announced Wednesday that they will
conduct late-night roadside safety checks, impaired-driving patrols
and safety belt enforcement zones in an effort to reduce traffic
fatalities and injuries over the holiday weekend.Data shows that
during last year's Fourth of July weekend -- from 6 p.m. July 2
until midnight July 5 -- 13 people lost their lives in motor vehicle
crashes, and five of those fatalities involved a drinking driver.
Additionally, 813 people were injured during the Fourth of July
weekend last year.
During the summer months of June through August in the last five
years, 101 of the 163 Illinois traffic fatalities occurring between
3 a.m. and 6 a.m. involved a drinking driver. That is 62 percent of
the fatalities taking place at that time. The next-highest time
frame was midnight to 3 a.m., at 59 percent. (See
table below.)
Compounding the problem is the fact that motorists buckle up at
lower rates during late-night hours than daytime hours.
"July 4 is a great time of celebration for our country, but too
often, those celebrations can turn deadly because of impaired
driving and a failure to buckle up," said Gary Hannig, secretary of
the Illinois Department of Transportation. "That is why IDOT is
working with Illinois law enforcement to remind motorists to
designate a sober driver before celebrating. If you don't and you
choose to drink and drive, you will be arrested."
"Holiday weekends provide a great opportunity for family and
friends to gather and celebrate, but the festivities are often
short-lived when someone chooses to drive impaired," said Jonathon
Monken, acting director of the Illinois State Police. "Our goal is
to make the roads safer by taking a zero-tolerance approach when it
comes to impaired drivers. To help us accomplish this goal, we
encourage motorists to designate a sober driver and wear their
safety belts."
"Alcohol use is one of the leading factors in fatal recreational
boating accidents nationwide," added Marc Miller, director of the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "Our Conservation Police
officers work very hard to make sure Illinois public waters are safe
for everyone to enjoy. We certainly want people to have a good time
on the water, but we have zero tolerance for anyone found operating
a boat under the influence."
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The Illinois Department of Transportation recommends that
motorists always designate a sober driver and also restrict friends
and family members from driving impaired. These two recommendations
are just two of several simple steps to avoid a tragic crash or an
impaired driving arrest this Fourth of July.
Other important tips:
-
Plan ahead.
Designate a sober driver before going out, and give that person
your keys.
-
If you are
impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit, or call a sober friend
or family member to get you home safely.
-
Use your
community's designated driver program.
-
Promptly report to
law enforcement any impaired drivers you see on the roadways.
Pull over and dial 911 to report.
-
Make sure everyone in your vehicle
wears a safety belt. It is your best defense against an impaired
driver.
The "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" crackdown began June 18 and
runs through July 4. 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 related to impaired driving in Illinois,
visit
www.drivesoberillinois.org.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Transportation file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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