LITH Police to Increase Enforcement Over Thanksgiving Holiday

Sergeant of Police Eric Decker for the Lake in the Hills Police Department shared the following press release in regards to the police department's upcoming Thanksgiving enforcement campaign.

Thanksgiving is days away, and for many residents, that means traveling to spend the holiday with friends and family. I want to remind everyone that no matter how far you’re driving this Thanksgiving, whether it’s down the road to a friend’s house, across town to pick up a pumpkin pie, or hundreds of miles to see a relative, you could be involved in a crash.

And if you or anyone in your vehicle is not wearing their seat belt, everyone is at a much greater risk of being killed. Being a good driver isn’t an effective defense against a drunk or reckless driver; statistics show that most crashes happen within a few miles of your home.

It is well known that Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year. More cars on the road present the potential for more crashes. More crashes lead to more fatalities, but you don’t have to be one of them. During Thanksgiving 2014, there were over 300 people killed in crashes on our nation’s roads, and over half of those occupants killed were not wearing seat belts. At night, that percentage increased to over 60 percent.

Most roadway deaths are completely preventable. Excessive speed, driving drunk/under the influence of drugs, and not wearing seat belts pose a danger to your life. We act to prevent disease and illness, but it’s time to act and prevent one of the nation’s biggest killers – car crashes.

That is why the Lake in the Hills Police will be joining safety advocates nationwide to spread the message about the importance of seat belts; to prevent these tragedies from occurring. Many Americans know of at least one person who has been killed in a crash, but still, too many people think it can’t happen to them. Just because crashes are common, doesn’t mean they aren’t preventable.

This Thanksgiving, there should be no more excuses. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Click It or Ticket. We want all drivers and passengers, front or back seat, to buckle up, day or night. If you’re traveling with children, remember that they are required to ride in a car seat or booster seat until at least age 8 in Illinois. Advocates recommend using these seats until children have reached the height and weight limit since seat belts are designed to fit adult bodies. Lake in the Hills Police urges you to join the Illinois Department of Transportation’s mission of Driving Zero Fatalities to a Reality.

My Thanksgiving wish this year is that everyone will realize the life-saving benefits of wearing a seat belt and driving safely. In less time than it takes you to slice that pie, pass the gravy, or call someone to say “Happy Thanksgiving”, you can do something powerful, smart and effective.

You can buckle up. You’ll be thankful you did.

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