Will County Sheriff Launches Labor Day Traffic Safety Campaign

Will County Illinois, which is adjacent and directly south of Cook County, decided to launch a traffic safety campaign with started August 16 and run through Labor Day weekend. The campaign is aims to stop drunk, unbuckled and distracted drivers.

“Our goal is to help ensure that our community’s residents and visitors make it home safely after the party ends,” Traffic Sergeant Kyle Lakomiak said in a release. “We will be out in force to keep impaired drivers off the roads. If you will be celebrating, we urge you to plan for a sober ride home. It could be a matter of life and death.”

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is funded by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest traffic weekends of the year. Be sure to to aware of your surroundings, buckle up and put your phone down when behind the wheel.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in an Illinois traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago accident attorney, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Illinois State Police Cracking Down on DUIs During Summer Months

Summer is finally here and there is more traffic out on the roads than any other time of year. This is especially true over holiday weekends like Memorial Day and Fourth of July. According to a dui attorney, the Illinois State Police and over 160 local law enforcement agencies are planning ahead to prepare for all the drivers on the road and launching “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns.

Both of these traffic safety campaigns are made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign reminding motorists that impaired driving has “Life or Death” consequences, so be sure to think before getting behind the wheel drunk.  The safety campaign will run June 17 through July 8 to encompass three summer weekends leading up to and after Independence Day. The Illinois State Police and local police departments have issued the following tips to help make the roads safer, and ultimately save lives:

  • Give your designated driver your keys before you go out.
  • If you are drunk or impaired by marijuana or other drugs, call a taxi, take mass transit, use your favorite ride-sharing service, or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
  • Promptly report drunk drivers to law enforcement by pulling over and dialing 911.
  • Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears their seat belt. Not only is it the law, it’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

There will be a lot more police officers on the roads the next few weeks. This should not be the only reason to be careful before getting behind the wheel. More importantly, you can save the lives of those in your vehicle and the vehicles around you by deciding not to drink and drive.

If you or loved one have been seriously injured in an Illinois truck accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant at 312-614-1076 for a free legal consultation.

Special Traffic Enforcement Coming For Memorial Day In Illinois

The weather is warming up and the number of motorists on the road is increasing. This is especially true with the Memorial Day holiday weekend coming up. According to the Chicago Tribune, several area police department and the Illinois State police are instituting their annual traffic enforcement policies “drive sober or get pulled over” and “click it or ticket.”

Specifically, the Arlington Heights police department from May 16 through the 30 will be implementing seat belt enforcement zones, impaired driving saturation patrols, and a Roadside Safety Checkpoint. The checkpoint will take place of Saturday, May 21, 2016 on Arlington Heights Road south of Algonquin Road.

Officers working the campaigns will be attempting to identify and cite motorists who choose to drive without using their safety belts, are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or are committing other traffic-related offenses. The campaigns are funded with federal traffic safety funds, which are administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation – Division of Transportation Safety.

Be careful over the coming holiday weekend. There will be a lot of travellers on the road and unfortunately some of them will be drinking and have their heads in their phone.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Data Shows Illinois Motorcyclists Are Drinking And Driving At Higher Rate Than Other Motorists

The Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT) recently collected auto accident data which revealed that
motorcyclists involved in fatal automobile crashes in the late afternoon and
early evening are more than twice as likely to have been driving under the
influence of alcohol.  IDOT and National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows for the 3 p.m. to 5:59
p.m. timeframe that 15 percent of motorcycle fatalities occurring during that
time involve a drunk rider compared to 6 percent of passenger vehiclefatalities during the same time. Data shows from 6 p.m. to 8:59 p.m. to be even
worse as 24 percent of motorcycle fatalities at that time involve a drunken
rider compared to 11 percent of passenger cars.   

“Whether
you are traveling in a vehicle or riding on a motorcycle, safety should be the
number one priority,” said ISP Colonel Michael Zerbonia. “Every second counts
when it comes to road safety and our officers will be enforcing all traffic
laws and reminding motorists that seat belts save lives.”

In
2012 in Illinois, 148 motorcyclists died in motor vehicle crashes. That was a
slight increase from 2011 motorcycle fatalities when 145 motorcyclists lost
their lives. Motorcycle riders continue to be over-represented in Illinoismotor vehicle crash fatalities. In 2012, motorcycles made up 3 percent of all
registered motor vehicles, yet motorcycle riders represented more than 15
percent of all motor vehicle fatalities.

Obviously
drinking while driving any type of vehicle is incredibly dangerous but the
higher rates for motorcycle driver fatalities is incredibly alarming. The
penalties and criminal implications are the same whether driving drunk in a car
versus a motorcycle, but it appears that more awareness needs to be made for
motorcycle drivers as they are left exposed while riding atop their bikes
unprotected. I will be keeping an eye out to see if IDOT or any other entity
spreads awareness on the danger of drinking while driving a motorcycle.

If
you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago motorcycle accident or
Chicago car accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney Aaron Bryant
for a free legal consultation at 312-588-3384. 

IL Police Stress Safety For Drivers Over Labor Day Weekend

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.