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 Police will be out in force in an effort to reduce traffic
fatalities and injuries during the heavily-traveled holiday. They
will be conducting roadside safety checks, impaired-driving patrols
and seat-belt enforcement zones.
“A high number of fatal traffic crashes on Illinois roads occur late
at night, with an unacceptable amount involving drinking and
motorists failing to buckle up, especially during the busy holiday
travel periods,” said Priscilla Tobias, director of IDOT’s Office of
Program Development. “Please, if you are on the road over the Labor
Day weekend, drive sober and buckle up.”
 Statistics show during last year’s Labor Day weekend (from 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4, until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7) 13 people lost
their lives in crashes. Three of those fatalities involved a driver
who tested positive for alcohol in their system.
“State police will be out in force with local law enforcement to get
drunk drivers off the road during the Labor Day weekend,” said ISP
Col. Tad Williams. “Troopers will show zero tolerance for impaired
driving and seat belt law violators. Designate a driver before going
out, and always buckle up,”
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Here are some important safety tips:
- Designate a sober driver before going out and give that
person your keys.
- Use your community’s designated driver program.
- If you are with someone who is impaired, do not let them
drive.
- If you are impaired: Call a taxi, use mass transit or call a
sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
- Promptly report impaired drivers, pull over to a safe
location and dial 911.
- Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears a seat belt.
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day crackdown
began Monday, Aug. 22, and continues through the early morning
hours of Tuesday, Sept. 6. It is administered by IDOT and
supported by ISP local law enforcement agencies throughout
Illinois.
[Illinois Department of
Transportation] |
