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Illinois to protect Labor Day weekend motorists with 'Stay Alive on
the I's'
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[August 31, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois
State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation announced a
new enforcement initiative Thursday aimed to help increase safety
and reduce fatalities during the Labor Day weekend. The "Stay Alive
on the I's" enforcement initiative begins at 2 p.m. Friday and
continues until midnight. During that time, all Illinois interstates
will be saturated with troopers placed every 10 miles along
interstate corridors. The "Stay Alive on the I's" enforcement
initiative concludes on Monday with a detail from 10 a.m. until 8
p.m.
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"The goal of this enforcement initiative is to reduce the number of
crashes in order to prevent injuries and fatalities on the
interstates," said ISP Director Larry G. Trent. "The fatal five
violations -- speeding, seat belt use, DUI, improper lane usage and
following too closely -- and Scott's Law, will be the primary
enforcement objectives. Motorists can do their part to help make
Labor Day a safe holiday by electing to buckle up, slow down and
drive defensively." The idea to saturate the interstates with
troopers stems from an initiative called "Stay Alive on I-55" that
took place the Friday before Memorial Day. The enforcement strategy
positioned troopers on Interstate 55 every 10 miles from St. Louis
to Chicago, beginning at noon and concluding at midnight. This
initiative resulted in no fatalities on I-55 during that time. Top
agency officials are hopeful the same results will occur over Labor
Day.
"IDOT strongly endorses the 'Stay Alive on the I's' enforcement
campaign. IDOT is committed to expending the resources necessary to
ensure people make it to their destination safely. We do whatever we
can to prepare the interstates for safe travel. Unfortunately, some
drivers get careless or reckless and cause serious, life-threatening
crashes on our roadways," IDOT Acting Secretary Milt Sees said.
Due to the increase of troopers on patrol throughout the holiday
weekend, officials remind motorists of Scott's Law, which requires
motorists to yield to moving emergency vehicles, including highway
maintenance vehicles, that are displaying oscillating, rotating or
flashing lights. Additionally, Scott's Law requires drivers to
change lanes, if safe to do so, or reduce speed and proceed with
caution when approaching a stationary vehicle displaying flashing
warning lights.
Over the 2006 Labor Day weekend Illinois State Police handled 271
crashes and two fatalities on Illinois interstates.
Troopers posted every 10 miles on the interstate will have the
highest effect on the largest concentration of travelers. "Stay
Alive on the I's" is in conjunction with the Labor Day Combined
Accident Reduction Effort and IDOT's "You Drink And Drive. You Lose"
campaign.
[Text from file received from Illinois
State Police] |
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