Before you hit the road this Thanksgiving, buckle up and designate a sober driver

As Illinoisans gear up for one of the busiest travel times of the year, the West Chicago Police Department announced its plans for a traffic safety campaign focusing on impaired and unbuckled drivers.

"Holiday traffic brings with it an increased risk for accidents," said Chief Michael Uplegger. "To ensure your family makes it to and from your Thanksgiving feast without incident, make a conscious choice to buckle-up, and plan ahead for a sober ride home."

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 15 motor vehicle crash fatalities occurred in Illinois over the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Five of the 15 deaths occurred in crashes involving at least one driver who had been drinking.

The West Chicago Police Department is partnering with the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement across Illinois for the increased statewide effort. The high-visibility crackdown will run from Nov. 22 through the holiday weekend into the early morning hours of Dec. 2.

The "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaigns are funded by federal traffic safety funds administered by IDOT. The crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign reminding motorists that impaired driving has "Life or Death" consequences.

Visit LifeOrDeathIllinois.com for more information.