State Police issue holiday reminder: Drive sober and buckle up

Posted on December 21, 2016
Illinois State Police
State Police are boosting patrols during the holiday season. (Photo by Arvell Dorsey Jr./flickr)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – More police are out on the roads as traffic enforcement efforts are beefed up for the holidays.

The “Click it or Ticket” and “Drive sober or get pulled over” campaigns will again target drivers not buckled up or driving drunk.

State Police captain David Byrd said it’s all hands on deck to help prevent traffic fatalities through the end of the year.

“We increase patrols on every shift and the we put more patrols out overnight,” Byrd said.

Enforcement efforts include roadside safety checks, seat-belt enforcement zones and special speed and DUI details.

“DUI is one of the most preventable factors in holiday fatal traffic crashes,” said ISP Director Leo Schmitz. “Throughout the holidays, the ISP will conduct extra patrols and roadside safety checks with an emphasis on removing impaired drivers. Help make this a better holiday for everyone by designating a driver before you celebrate. ”

The holiday crackdown comes as traffic fatalities are up across the nation. As of Dec. 19, 1,034 people have died this year on Illinois roads. A total of 998 people died in crashes in all of 2015.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…