Crystal Lake Police Recognized for Efforts to Reduce Injury Accidents, Increase Seatbelt Use

The following press release was submitted by the Crystal Lake Police Department

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL - The Crystal Lake Police Department received a first place award for their efforts in the Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge (ITSC) in the Municipal 66-100 sworn category.

The Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge is a program coordinated by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) Traffic Committee and supported by a NHTSA grant administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Safety, as well as much-appreciated funding from private entities, according to a news release.

The Challenge is a template for law enforcement agencies to identify traffic issues, plan strategies, reduce social harm and improve the quality of life in their communities. The overall goal of the Challenge is to have a significant impact on the reduction of crashes, deaths and associated injuries across the state.

The ITSC targets three major traffic safety priorities: occupant protection, speeding and impaired driving. It recognizes agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem solving in their communities, using public information activities and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts. Winning programs effectively combine many different strategies to reduce crashes and injuries in their jurisdiction. Ultimately, the Traffic Safety Challenge is about Saving Lives and reducing traffic related injuries.

Through the efforts of its officers, the Crystal Lake Police Department successfully reduced the number of traffic crashes resulting in injuries in 2015.

In addition, after a consistent enforcement effort the seatbelt compliance rate in the City of Crystal Lake increased to 96.5 percent from the previously recorded rate of 92.78 percent. A significant increase compared to the State of Illinois average of 95.1 percent.

The Crystal Lake Police Department is proud of this accomplishment and reminds motorists traffic safety is the responsibility of not only the police, but also the motoring public. Please drive safely, watch your speed, buckle up and put down your cell phone. Together we can all save a life.

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