Local Police Step Up Patrols For The Holidays

From the Village of Arlington Heights:

December 17 2019

Drive merry, bright and sober this holiday season

Arlington Heights, IL — With holiday festivities rapidly approaching, the Arlington
Heights Police Department announced that it will participate in a national enforcement
campaign to crack down on impaired and unbuckled drivers from Dec. 16 through Jan. 2.

“While parties are an enjoyable part of the holiday season, we urge our community members
to keep the merriment off the road,” said Sergeant Rick Sjodin. “If your celebration will
involve alcohol, please plan ahead for a sober ride home and remember to buckle up – it’s the
best defense against an impaired driver.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis
Reporting System, 839 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver last
December. Throughout the 2018 Christmas and New Year’s holidays alone, there were 285
drunk-driving-related fatalities – more than any other time that year.

Keep these tips in mind to help ensure a safe and joyful holiday season:

 Before you head to the party, designate a sober driver or plan to use public
transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely.
 If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over and call 911.
 Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Make sure they don’t drive and help
them get home safely.
 Always buckle up!

The Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is administered and funded by the
Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds managed by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

This press release was produced by the Village of Arlington Heights:. The views expressed here are the author’s own.