Hinsdale Police Department Enforcing Seatbelts, Sobriety During Thanksgiving Holiday

Submitted by the Village of Hinsdale.

Police and safety officials in Hinsdale are reminding residents to fasten their seat belts and drive sober over the Thanksgiving holiday or run the risk of receiving a ticket.

In the time period of November 17th- November 19th, Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police (ISP) and local law enforcement agencies across the state to save more lives by strongly enforcing seat belt and impaired driving laws.

IDOT is proud that Illinois has a 94.1 percent daytime seat belt usage rate. However, far too many drivers and passengers still do not buckle up – especially late at night. During the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Illinois, seven people lost their lives and 723 motorists were injured in motor vehicle crashes- three of those deaths involved alcohol. Remember – wearing your seat belt is your best defense against an impaired driver. Whether you’re going across town or across the state this Thanksgiving, please make sure everyone in the car is wearing their seat belt. As of January 1, 2012, by law in Illinois, everyone must wear a seat belt no matter what seating position.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts saved over 12,000 lives nationwide in 2012. Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You will save the cost of a ticket and may save a life.

Chief Bradley Bloom said, “It is difficult to empirically show just how many serious injuries and fatalities have been prevented by this zero tolerance enforcement, and this traffic safety initiative is one that we will continue to support. Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing a seat belt and arrest those choosing to drive impaired.”

For more information about the Click It or Ticket and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaigns, please visit buckleupillinois.org.