Oak Lawn Police Watching For Drunk And High Drivers During Holidays

OAK LAWN, IL — Given the number of seat belt scofflaws during the Oak Lawn Police Department’s holiday traffic enforcement campaigns, it’s worth mentioning again that officers will be watching the roads for drunk or high drivers during the holiday season. Special patrols will be in place through Jan. 2, as will police in other nearby communities.

“If you’ll be celebrating with festive drinks or other impairing substances, make a plan for a safe ride home before you leave for the party,” said OLPD Sgt. M. Acke. “Driving impaired is simply unacceptable. That’s why we make zero exceptions and arrest all impaired drivers. There are no excuses.”

In the United States in 2021, a total of 13,384 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Report System.

On average, more than 10,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes each year from 2017 to 2021, with one person killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes.

Keep these tips in mind to help ensure a safe and joyful holiday season:

• Before you head to the party, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride-sharing service to get home safely.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 9-1-1.
• Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take their keys and help them get home safely.
• Always buckle up.

The holiday enforcement effort is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.