Impaired Driving Crackdown in Oak Park

From the Oak Park Police Department:

Oak Park Police will step up enforcement during late-night hours from Dec. 19 – Jan. 1 against violations of seat belt requirements and driving under the influence as part of the state's Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket programs.

Police say the intensified enforcement effort, including roadside safety checks and safety belt enforcement zones, is to combat the violations that represent a disproportionate number of traffic deaths during late-night hours.

According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), midnight to 3 a.m. is the
deadliest time on Illinois roadways. The data also show this time of day has the highest percentage of driving under the influence and the lowest safety belt usage rate.

“The numbers do not lie," said Deputy Chief Anthony Ambrose. "That is why we will be stepping up our late-night enforcement efforts. We want to make sure impaired
drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up,”
Ambrose recommends two simple steps to avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving – designate a sober driver and do not let friends and family drive impaired.

Other important tips include the following:

If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or familymember to get you home safely;
Promptly report impaired drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement;

Always wear your safety belt and make sure all passengers are buckled up. It isyour best defense against an impaired driver.

The law enforcement crackdown runs concurrently with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket media campaign. For more information visit
www.buckleupillinois.org