Carpentersville campaigns against impaired driving

December is a time for families to come together and celebrate the holidays. It is also, traditionally, one of the deadliest times of the year for impaired driving, according to a proclamation recognizing December as Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month in the Village of Carpentersville.

Trustee Kay Teeter read the proclamation at Monday night's board meeting.

Police Chief David Neumann said the Carpentersville Police Department will be ready to increase enforcement during the holiday season.

“People need to be aware that the police department will be doing what we can to make the roads as safe as possible,” Neumann said.

In proclaiming December Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, Carpentersville is joining with the Illinois Department of Transportation's division of traffic safety and other groups dedicated to helping protect residents.

Neumann said this is not the first year the police department has prepared itself to be especially vigilant in December.

“We've always stepped up enforcement around the holidays,” Neumann said.

The department also has received grant funding to conduct extra patrols, according to Neumann.

Trustee Judy Sigwalt said she supports any step by the village to help prevent driving under the influence.

“Anything we can do to put the message out there,” Sigwalt said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 30 percent of people in the United States will one day be involved in an alcohol-related crash. In 2009, 911 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Illinois, Teeter read in the proclamation. Of those deaths, 319 involved a driver impaired by alcohol.