IDOT, Illinois State Police and local law enforcement to increase
police presence this St. Patrick's Day
Enforcement to be stepped up to catch drunk drivers and keep roads
safe
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[March 16, 2013]
CHICAGO -- As St. Patrick's Day
approaches, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois
State Police and hundreds of local law enforcement agencies urge
motorists to plan a safe ride home and never get behind the wheel
after drinking. This weekend, as part of the statewide "Drive Sober
or Get Pulled Over" public safety campaign, state and local law
enforcement officials across Illinois will increase patrols to crack
down on drunk drivers.
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St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day of celebration with family
and friends, at local parades, restaurants and drinking
establishments. Too often, these celebrations lead to excessive
drinking, which can turn deadly because of drunk drivers."Drunk
driving is dangerous, deadly and against the law -- and it will not
be tolerated in Illinois," said Illinois Transportation Secretary
Ann L. Schneider. "Today we are giving fair warning to everyone
traveling during St. Patrick's Day that law enforcement officers
will be out on patrol. If you are caught driving drunk, you will be
arrested. If you are observed not wearing a seat belt, you will be
ticketed."
From March 14 through 17, IDOT will provide more than $600,000 in
federal highway safety dollars to fund additional roadside safety
checks, saturation patrols and other impaired driving
countermeasures. In addition, nighttime safety belt patrols will be
funded, including hundreds of nighttime patrols to counter low
safety belt usage late at night. In addition to Illinois State
Police and the Illinois Secretary of State Police, about 200 local
law enforcement agencies are participating. A combined total of more
than 1,000 roadside safety checks, safety belt enforcement zones and
other enforcement activities will take place during the St.
Patrick's Day period, with most patrols taking place on the weekend.
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According to statewide traffic safety data, during the past five
years in Illinois, 10 people lost their lives in motor vehicle
crashes on St. Patrick's Day (fatalities occurring March 17 from
midnight through 11:59 p.m.), including three deaths during St.
Patrick's Day last year. Two of the 10 fatalities since 2007
involved a driver who had been drinking alcohol.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that
more than 700 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving
drunk drivers during St. Patrick's Day holidays from 2006 to 2010.
There were 129 lives lost in 2010 alone. (NHTSA defines St.
Patrick's Day as 6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18.)
On average, every 51 minutes a person is killed in a
drunk-driving crash in the United States, and the majority of these
crashes involve drivers who have blood alcohol concentrations of
0.15 grams per deciliter or higher -- almost twice the legal limit
of 0.08.
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To help ensure a safe St. Patrick's
Day, follow these suggestions:
If you are hosting a party:
-
Remember, you can
be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served is involved
in an impaired-driving crash.
-
Make sure all of
your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help
arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.
-
Serve lots of food
and include lots of nonalcoholic beverages at the party.
-
Keep the numbers for local cab
companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is
thinking of driving impaired.
If you are attending a party:
-
Designate your
sober driver before the party begins and give that person
your car keys.
-
If you do not have
a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a
cab, sober friend, family member to pick you up, or use public
transportation if available; or just stay where you are and
sleep it off until you are sober.
-
Never let a friend
leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while
impaired.
-
Always buckle up -- it is still your
best defense against an impaired driver.
[Text from
Illinois Department of
Transportation file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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