As 2013 comes to an end, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois State Police and over 250 law enforcement agencies across the state are reminding Illinois motorists that they will put in overtime during the New Year’s holiday and into 2014. This final push has a dual purpose: Zero motor vehicle fatalities during New Year’s; and a strong, safe start to 2014.
Hundreds of additional law enforcement hours funded with federal funds through IDOT will provide roadside safety checks, seat belt enforcement zones and other patrols reminding motorists to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket.” This statewide effort will ramp up during New Year’s Eve and continue strong through the first weekend of 2014 to help counteract what can tragically be one of the most dangerous times on Illinois roads.
IDOT crash data shows in the last five years during the New Year’s holiday, 38 people died in motor vehicle crashes on Illinois public roadways. Fifteen, or 40 percent, of those 38 individuals, died in crashes involving at least one driver who had been drinking. During the same five-year timeframe on New Year’s, 2,868 people were injured.
