Lombard Police Department Steps Up Late-Night Fight Against Impaired Driving and Safety Belt Law Violators

“If you are planning to travel by car to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends, make sure you and everyone riding with you buckles their safety belts or is secured in a proper child restraint. If you have been drinking, designate a sober driver,” said Officer Joe Grage of the Lombard Police Department Traffic Safety Unit.

“No one wants to start the holidays off wrong with a safety belt ticket or a DUI arrest,” said Grage. “Save your money for turkey and buying presents for loved ones – don't throw it away simply because you failed to buckle up or you were driving impaired,” Grage added.

The Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety (IDOT/DTS) is proud that Illinois has a 92.6% daytime safety belt usage rate. Nationally more people are buckling up; however, 45 million Americans still fail to buckle up when they are in a motor vehicle. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on any given day about 38 passenger vehicle occupants who are not buckled up are killed in motor vehicle crashes. In Illinois, during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2009, 12 vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle traffic crashes and five of those deaths involved a

drinking driver. More than 800 were injured in similar incidents.

NHTSA statistics also show that those least likely to buckle up are teens, young adults, males, nighttime riders, motorists traveling on rural roads and individuals traveling in pickup trucks, especially during the late night hours. Data shows late-night hours are when the highest percentage of motorists die in alcohol-involved crashes and the lowest percentage of vehicle occupants are properly restrained.

“Sadly, the holidays, which for many are the happiest time of the year, is also one of the deadliest and most tragic,” said Grage. “Wearing a safety belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it could cost you a ticket or worse…your life. The same applies when you have been drinking and choose to drive,” added Grage. “We want all drivers and passengers to Click It or Ticket, day and night—and remember, You Drink & Drive. You Lose.”

Regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA. Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent. Remember, the best defense against an impaired driver is a safety belt.

For more information about the “Click It or Ticket” and the “You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” Campaigns, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.