Orland Park PD Increases Road Patrols during Super Bowl Weekend

The Super Bowl is one of America’s most highly anticipated sports events, when friends and family get together to enjoy the big game. As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, the Orland Park Police Department will be out with additional patrols to ensure impaired drivers are kept off the road and drivers are wearing their seat belts.

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police and dozens of local police departments across Illinois will join forces to spread two life-saving messages - Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Police officers will also be out enforcing the seat belt initiative, click it or ticket.

"Super Bowl Sunday has become comparable to a holiday in the United States," said Trustee Pat Gira, chair of the village's Public Safety Committee. "Families gather to watch the big game and this is why it's so important to celebrate wisely."

OPPD’s Super Bowl weekend enforcement effort will run from Friday, Feb. 2, through the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 5.

“During any holiday or big event, we always want to remind drivers to enjoy themselves responsibly and never get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking,” said Police Chief Tim McCarthy. “Always plan ahead and call a designated driver if you’ve been drinking. And always buckle up.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers the following Super Bowl tips:

· Designate a sober driver or plan another way to get home safely before the party begins

· Use NHTSA’s new SaferRide mobile app. The app helps people who have been drinking get a safe ride

home by allowing users to call a taxi or a friend and by identifying their location so they can be picked

up. The app is available for Android devices on Google Play, and Apple devices in the iTunes store.

· If you don’t have a designated driver, then ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family

member to come and get you; or just stay in for the night

· Never let friends drive if they have had too much to drink

· Always buckle up – it’s still your best defense against drunk drivers

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party:

· Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with

sober drivers

· Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party

· If you plan to stay sober, offer to drive guests home

· Encourage guests to pace themselves