IDOT, state and local law enforcement announce plans for St.
Patrick's Day
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[March 17, 2012]
CHICAGO -- As St. Patrick's Day
celebrations will soon be under way, the Illinois Department of
Transportation and the Illinois State Police are partnering with
more than 150 law enforcement agencies statewide to boost traffic
safety through their "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" and "Click It
or Ticket" mobilizations. The partnership and campaign will remind
motorists to act responsibly this St. Patrick's Day by buckling up
and designating a sober driver before the parties begin.
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"IDOT takes traffic safety very seriously and places a special
emphasis on holiday weekends when impaired driving often occurs,"
said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider. "The message
is simple and clear for St. Patrick's Day as with every holiday --
celebrate responsibly; designate a sober driver before heading to
the local parade, pub or house party; and always buckle up. If you
don't, you can expect to be caught and incur serious penalties."
According to data from IDOT, since 2007 in Illinois, 13 people lost
their lives in motor vehicle crashes on St. Patrick's Day (March 17,
midnight through 11:59 p.m.). Seven of those fatalities, or 54
percent, involved a driver who had been drinking alcohol. The one
Illinois fatality that occurred on St. Patrick's Day last year
involved a drinking driver.
"Illinois State Police will push for zero fatalities during the
St. Patrick's Day celebration period in its push against driving
under the influence," said Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau.
"We will have zero tolerance for impaired drivers and expect every
motorist who leaves a parade or drinking establishment to take the
necessary safety precautions before getting behind the wheel of a
vehicle."
IDOT is administering federal highway safety funds to the state
police and local law enforcement agencies to support roadside safety
checks, saturation patrols and other impaired driving
counter-measures. In addition, extra nighttime safety belt patrols
will focus on the deadly late-night hours on Illinois roadways.
Approximately 100 roadside safety checks, 500 nighttime safety
belt enforcement zones, and hundreds of impaired driving and safety
belt patrols have been scheduled to occur during the St. Patrick's
Day enforcement period, March 12-20, with the majority of patrols
occurring March 17-20. State police and 153 city and county law
enforcement agencies are participating in this important enforcement
campaign.
There is no luck involved. Just follow these simple steps so you
can enjoy a safe St. Patrick's Day without jeopardizing your life
and the lives of others on Illinois roadways.
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.
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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.
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If you are attending a party:
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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 or family member to pick you up, 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.
___
St. Patrick's Day in Illinois
Year |
Fatalities |
Alcohol-involved
fatalities** |
Percent of
fatalities
involving alcohol |
2007 |
6 |
5 |
83% |
2008 |
3 |
1 |
33% |
2009 |
2 |
0 |
0% |
2010 |
1 |
0 |
0% |
2011 |
1 |
0 |
100% |
**Fatalities
occurred on March 17 from midnight through 11:59 p.m.
**Fatalities that resulted from a crash in which at least one
driver, either surviving or deceased, had a blood alcohol content of
0.01 or greater.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Transportation file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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