The Des Plaines Police Department announced today, August 17, 2011, plans for the 2011 Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Impaired Driving Crackdown.

According to Police, the intensified enforcement effort against the overwhelming number of late-night impaired drivers and safety belt violators underscores the disproportionate number of traffic deaths occurring during late-night hours.

Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that the Midnight to 3 AM timeframe is the deadliest time on Illinois roadways.  Data also show that this time of day has the highest percentage of alcohol involvement and the lowest safety belt usage rate.

“The numbers do not lie. We will be stepping up our late-night enforcement efforts, making sure impaired drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up.  Remember, ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’ ” said Des Plaines Police Traffic Commander Tim Veit.

The Des Plaines Police Department will be conducting two Roadside Safety Checkpoints during the next two weeks. The first one will be conducted jointly with the Park Ridge Police Department and will take place this Friday, August 19, 2011, in the night time hours at Devon Avenue and Dee Road in Park Ridge. The second one will take place the following Friday, August 26, 2011, and will be in the 2000 block of East Rand Road in Des Plaines, also during the night time hours. In addition, the Police Department will be sending out officers at night in saturation patrols looking for impaired drivers. The Police Department will also be conducting fourteen seatbelt enforcement zones during this two week period.     

“Our focus is to locate and issue tickets to front seat drivers/passengers and drivers that do not properly buckle up children in their vehicles. With proper education and enforcement, Illinois has continued to raise the seatbelt usage rate year after year. This enforcement effort is made possible by a traffic safety grant from IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety,” Veit said.

Commander Tim Veit recommends designating a sober driver and not letting friends and family drive impaired, as just two of several simple steps to avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving. Other important tips include:

•  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.
• Wear your safety belt and make sure all passengers are buckled up. It is your best defense against an impaired driver. 

According to Veit, the law enforcement crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign that reminds motorists, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”