This holiday season the Lake County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and nearly 200 police and sheriff’s departments across the state. The goal is simple: Get impaired drunk drivers off the roads and help save lives.
This high-visibility enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs December 17th to January 2nd. Law enforcement will show zero tolerance for drunk or drugged driving. We aim to drastically reduce impaired driving on our roads through an increased number of state and national messages about the dangers of impaired driving and more officers enforcing live-saving seat belt, speeding and distracted driving laws.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 10,874 people were killed in the United States in drunk-driving crashes in 2017. That’s one person killed every 48 minutes. In Illinois in 2017, alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes claimed 349 lives. This is exactly why we are so committed to reminding drivers that impaired driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life or death.
Sheriff John Idleburg said, “We want Lake County to enjoy the holiday season. Please, slow down and remember: It’s up to you to make the smart decision to drive sober - during the holidays and all year long. Don’t risk your life and the lives of others on the roadways, if you’ve consumed too much, don’t drive!”
If you plan to drink, plan for a sober driver to take you home. Is it your turn to be the designated driver? Take that role seriously — your friends are relying on you.
• Remember, it’s never OK to drive impaired by drugs or alcohol. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage.
• Designate a sober driver, use public transportation, use a ride service or opt to spend the night.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement.
• Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take the keys away and help them get home safely. They’ll thank you later.
The Illinois Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket campaigns are funded with federal highway safety dollars and administered by IDOT in partnership with the Lake County Office and law enforcement throughout Illinois and the nation.