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.”

Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year—putting more people on the road and increasing the likelihood of crashes. In 2013, more than 300 people were killed in crashes across the United States on Thanksgiving weekend alone. In total, 21,132 people were killed that year in crashes – nearly half of those people were not buckled.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts saved the lives of more than 12,500 passenger vehicle occupants age 5 and older nationwide in 2013.

“Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same,” D’Ambrosio added. “You will save the cost of a ticket, and you may save a life in the process.” Visit www.buckleupillinois.org for more information about the Click It or Ticket and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaigns.