Illinois State Police District 09 issues safety awareness ahead of upcoming prom and graduation season
Troopers Urge Motorists to Drive Safely,
“The Choices you make today can affect your life tomorrow”

[May 06, 2017]  Illinois State Police (ISP) District 09 officials are reminding young drivers to think responsibly as they celebrate during the upcoming prom and graduation season. Our primary safety message is in the word PROM which asks teens to “Please Return On Monday.”

Now that Prom and Graduation are upon us, area high school students will soon be participating in celebrations that occur not only at school but at private locations. During the next couple of weeks, ISP District 09 Troopers will be conducting high visibility patrols with aggressive enforcement of the Fatal Four violations: DUI, Speeding, Seat Belt, and Distracted Driving, with a focus on DUI violations.

District 09 Commander Chris Owen stated “Prom is a time of year for celebration. However, those attending should be reminded that poor decisions lead to tragedy. It takes courage to make the right decisions when faced with various forms of peer pressure that our youth are faced with today. Those that make the right decisions are to be commended, those that choose to drink and drive or drive while distracted are poor decision makers and our State Troopers will be on the roadways to intercept them.”

We want to modify teen driving behaviors which include distractions, carelessness, fatigue, and inexperience. These behaviors, when combined with drugs or alcohol, can be lethal. Car crashes kill more teens during the weekends of prom and graduation season than any other time of year.

Seat Belt Enforcement Zones will also be conducted in addition to directed patrols. The goal of these concentrated efforts is voluntary compliance. With the motoring public’s assistance, we can help ensure this year’s prom and graduation memories are positive ones. Think responsibly, put the phone down, “Drop it and Drive,” buckle up, and don’t use alcohol or drugs.

[Tpr. Sean T. Ramsey
Safety Education Officer
Illinois State Police District 09]