Oak Forest Police to Step Up Patrols Thanksgiving Weekend

The Oak Forest Police Department reminds residents to fasten their seat belts and drive sober during the Thanksgiving holiday or run the risk of receiving a ticket.

The police department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police, and local law enforcement agencies across the state to save more lives by strongly enforcing seat belt and impaired driving laws.

“Whether you’re going across town or across the state this Thanksgiving, please make sure everyone in the car is wearing their seat belts. As of 2012, Illinois law states that everyone must wear a seat belt no matter what seating position,” said Deputy Chief Dominic D’Ambrosio. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing a seat belt and arrest those choosing to drive impaired.”

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.

“Our goal is to save more lives, so we’ll be out enforcing seat belt laws around the clock,” D’Ambrosio added. “Additional enforcement will take place late at night when seat belt use is at its lowest and impaired driving is the biggest problem.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts saved more than 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.

For more information, visit buckleupillinois.org.