Friday, Jul. 03, 2009

Police step up safety checks on holiday weekend

Police are hitting streets this holiday weekend to help keep impaired drivers off the roads and make sure travelers are safely buckled up.

Fatal traffic accidents are most likely to occur between midnight and 3 a.m. in Illinois, Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Richard Allan said Thursday at a news conference in Edwardsville.

He said those crashes often involve impaired drivers and people not wearing seat belts. "We have to do better," he said.

For the July 4th holiday weekend, hundreds of Illinois law enforcement agencies will join the Illinois State Police to conduct numerous additional late-night roadside safety checks, impaired driving patrols and safety belt enforcement zones.

"If alcohol will be a part of your celebration this weekend, designate a sober driver or take a taxi," said Illinois State Police Lt. Michael Lennix.

The "You Drink & Drive, You Lose" crackdown began June 19 and runs through Sunday. It is funded by about $1 million in federal safety funds being made available by IDOT's Division of Traffic Safety.

"July 4th is a time to celebrate freedom, and every American deserves to drive on roadways without the threat of an impaired driver," said Tricia Clegg, a spokeswoman for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

At the news conference, Edwardsville Police Chief Jim Bedell announced that his force has issued more than 200 DUI citations the past five years.

Several officers were awarded for their efforts to enforce drinking and driving laws, including patrolman Brandn Whittaker who has issued nearly 200 DUIs.

"We're very proud of our efforts to keep the roadways safe," said Edwardsville Police Lt. Scott Evers.