It's The Deadliest Driving Day Of The Year: 'Blackout Wednesday'

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, sometimes referred to as "Blackout Wednesday," rivals New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day as the busiest days of the year for bars, especially in the suburbs, and police and prosecutors have stepped up enforcement accordingly.

A combination of factors likely contributes to the phenomenon. First of all, hardly anyone has to work on Thursday. Throw in a bunch of family visiting from out of town – including students and young people recently able to legally imbibe reunited with old pals ahead of Thanksgiving Day – and you start to get what's considered one of the biggest nights of the year for drunken revelry.

Nationwide more than 48,000 people may be seriously injured in car crashes during the Thanksgiving Day holiday, according to estimates from the National Safety Council.

About a third of such crashes historically involve alcohol. In Illinois, there were 316 deaths attributed to drunk driving and 29 percent of all 2016 traffic fatalities were the result of drunk driving, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

There were 11 traffic deaths on Thanksgiving last year, and planned enforcement activities over the 2017 holiday include more seat belt enforcement zones and impaired driver saturation patrols.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced more than 150 law enforcement agencies and the Illinois State police are partnering to step up patrols and roadside safety checkpoints up and down the state. Increased enforcement started last Friday and runs through the early morning hours of next Monday, Nov. 27.

“Thousands of motorists will be traveling across Illinois roadways this Thanksgiving weekend. For the safety of all motorists, the Illinois State Police will focus patrol efforts on the Fatal Four violations, the most common causes of fatal traffic crashes: DUI, speeding, occupant restraint and distracted driving,” Illinois State Police Director Leo P. Schmitz said. He recommended motorists keep an eye on their speed, wear seat belts and slow down for emergency or hazard lights.

The Illinois State Police provided the following steps to help avoid a tragic crash or an impaired driving arrest:

• Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.
• If you are impaired, call a taxi, use a ride-sharing service or mass transit, or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
• If you notice a friend or family member is impaired, take their keys and help arrange a safe ride home.
• Promptly report impaired drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement by pulling over and dialing 911.
• Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears their seat belt. It is your best defense in the event of a crash.

Plus, reporting drunk drivers could even end up paying for monetarily, as the Illinois-based Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists' DrunkBuster program gives people who report impaired drivers $100 if their tips lead to an arrest for intoxicated driving. The program is valid statewide during all major holidays and runs year-round in Boone, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

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