West Chicago police start new traffic enforcement campaign
West Chicago, Illinois: June 6, 2013 - The Traffic Safety Unit of the West Chicago Police Department announced that Campaign #4 of the Illinois Department of Transportation funded grant was successful in educating the motoring public on seatbelt safety and awareness. The Campaign ran from May 10 - 27, 2013 and resulted in 28 citations being issued for seatbelt and 4 child restraint violations. During the Month of May 2013, the West Chicago Police Officers issued a total of 619 Traffic Citations in a strategic effort to improve the safety of our roadways. This would not have been possible without the partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation. A roadside Safety Check, Seatbelt Enforcement Zones and Saturation Patrols were conducted with the direction and funding assistance of IDOT.
Campaign #4 was the fourth of six overall campaigns funded by a grant received from the Illinois Department of Transportation. This grant provides sworn officers funding for additional hours dedicated to traffic enforcement for child restraint, seatbelt, speeding and alcohol related violations.
Campaign # 5 will run June 28, 2013 - July 7, 2013. A continuing effort will be made Citywide to make roadways safer by enforcing these violations and educating the public on seatbelt safety and awareness.
Also noteworthy, the 2013 Click It or Ticket campaign continues during June and July in Illinois. The purpose of the campaign is to help save lives by cracking down on those who do not buckle up through the July 4th holiday. The next campaign will run between June 28, 2013 and July 7, 2013.
The West Chicago Police Department is again joining the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police (ISP) and more than 500 other local law enforcement agencies across the state to save more lives by strongly enforcing seat belt laws.
“As we enjoy the busy summer driving season, it's important for everyone to buckle up every trip, every time, day or night – no excuses,” said Sergeant Spencer Kroning. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing a seat belt.”
Statistical information shows that during the 2012 July 4th holiday there were six fatalities and almost 600 injuries on Illinois roadways. Three of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Wearing a seat belt is the best defense against an impaired driver.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 % of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. As noted, deaths involving seat belt non-use are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours of 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists still are not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” said Sergeant Kroning. “Our goal is to save more lives, so West Chicago Police Department personnel will be out enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.”
In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA. While this year's Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign runs from May 10 - May 27, 2013, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round. Buckle up and encourage loved ones to do the same. You will save the cost of a ticket and may save a life.
For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.