Police to step up enforcement for Labor Day
LOMBARD, Illinois—The Lombard Police Department today announced its late-night plans for the 2011 Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Impaired Driving Crackdown, as well as a stepped up enforcement of seat belts during the same period.
The intensified enforcement effort against the overwhelming number of late-night impaired drivers and safety belt violators underscores the disproportionate number of traffic deaths occurring during late-night hours. The Lombard Police Department will be having a roadside safety check on September 3 as part of the special enforcement efforts during the holiday weekend.
According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the midnight to 3 a.m. timeframe is the deadliest time on Illinois roadways. Not coincidentally, the data also shows this time of day has the highest percentage of alcohol involvement and the lowest safety belt usage rate.
“The numbers do not lie. We will be stepping up our late-night enforcement efforts, making sure impaired drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up,” said Lombard Police Chief Raymond Byrne. “In Lombard, remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” Byrne added.
The Lombard Police Department recommends designating a sober driver and not
letting friends and family drive impaired as just two of several simple steps to avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving. Other important tips include:
• Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.
• If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
• Promptly report impaired drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement.
• Wear your safety belt and make sure all passengers are buckled up. It is your best defense against an impaired driver.
The law enforcement crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign that will remind motorists, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”