Labor Day weekend is
upon us and there will be increased number drivers on the road in Chicago and
around Illinois. The Illinois State Police, along with local police
departments, are once again launching their safety campaign: “driver sober
or get pulled over.” Police are focusing on DUI enforcement and seat-belt
usage. Enforcement
efforts are concentrating on the deadly nighttime hours. According to data from
the Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, the midnight-to-3 a.m. timeframe is the deadliest time
on Illinois roadways. The data also shows this time of day has the highest
percentage of alcohol-involvement incidents and the lowest seat belt-usage
rate.
The
Illinois state police made the following recommendations for drivers before
they hit the road over this long weekend:
· 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; and
·
Wear your seat belt
and make sure all passengers are buckled up. It is your best defense against an
impaired driver.
I like this initiative
and I hope it decreases the number of car accidents this weekend, but to be
honest, I would like to see the police crackdown on drivers who are texting or
using their phones while driving. We are no longer living in a world where
drunk drivers are the most dangerous type of driver out there.
Regardless, be safe and enjoy the holiday weekend.
If you or someone you
love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then
call Chicago personal injury attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at
312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com.