IDOT: Plan ahead for safe return from St. Pat’s Day parties

Posted on March 16, 2018
police lights
Four people died in drunk driving crashes around last St. Patrick’s Day.
(Photo courtesy Facebook/Illinois Department of Transportation)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation wants you to party safely during this Saint Patrick’s Day weekend.

IDOT spokeswoman Kelsea Gurski suggests planning ahead for your way home, because police across the state will be looking for drunk drivers.

“We’re going to have extra law enforcement stepping up patrols to stop impaired drivers,” Gurski said. “That can include roadside safety checks, seat belt enforcement zones and saturation patrols. That’s going to happen through Monday.”

Gurski said safety includes anticipating how to get home.

“We want everybody to be safe on the roads, designate a sober driver, have a safe plan to get home and make sure that those keys are not in the hands of the wrong people,” Gurski added.

Last year, 15 people died in crashes around Saint Patrick’s Day. Four of those deaths were linked to drunk drivers.

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