Holiday Traffic Safety Campaign Begins Friday In Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, IL — As the holiday season continues, law enforcement agencies across the state will be ramping up efforts to curtail impaired driving. Starting Friday, the Lake County Sheriff's Office will partner up with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the high visibility "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" and "Drive High. Get a DUI" traffic safety campaigns. The campaigns run through Jan. 2, 2023.

"We want everyone in our community to enjoy the holidays without worrying about the dangers of impaired drivers," Sheriff John D. Idleburg said. "During the campaign, you can expect to see extra safety patrols. We will show zero tolerance for impaired driving to help ensure everyone makes it to and from their destinations safely."

In 2020, a total of 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, with one person killed in an alcohol-related crash every 45 minutes in 2020.

Before the holiday fun begins, the sheriff's office is asking residents to make a plan for a sober ride home and remember these tips:

• Designate a sober driver or make a 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? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get them home safely. They will thank you later.
• Always buckle up!

The holiday enforcement campaign is administered by IDOT with federal highway safety funds managed by NHTSA.