IDOT and Illinois Law Enforcement Ramp Up Efforts for Memorial Day Weekend

Officials place a special emphasis on nighttime enforcement

CHICAGO– The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois State Police (ISP) today announced their plans to intensify efforts to reach unbuckled motorists over the Memorial Day weekend. The Memorial Day, Click It or Ticket campaign began on Friday, May 14th, led by the Illinois State Police and hundreds of local law enforcement agencies from every corner of the state. Law enforcement is not finished, there are hundreds more safety belt enforcement zones and other patrols planned for the heavily-traveled holiday weekend.

This final push has one goal – to save lives during the Memorial Day weekend which is noted as one of the deadliest times on Illinois roads. Last year in Illinois, 30 people died in 17 crashes during the holiday period (6:00 pm on 5/22/09 – 12:00 a.m. on 5/25/09). This compared to 8 people dying during the same timeframe in 2008. Last year’s Memorial Day traffic fatalities are made even more significant because total fatalities in 2009 reached an
88-year low of 911.

The Click It or Ticket campaign has helped push safety belt use to nearly 92 percent in Illinois and the result has been lives saved. Illinois saw an historic low in traffic fatalities last year and a safe Memorial Day weekend will help that number drop even lower in 2010.

“Overall, fewer people are dying on Illinois roadways because more people are buckling up, and Click It or Ticket is one good reason for that. It’s simple…if it takes a ticket to save a life, then we support it,” said Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig.

"We are proud to partner with the Illinois Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies throughout the state, to prepare the public for the summer driving months," said Illinois State Police Acting Director Jonathon E. Monken. "Our priority is not to see how many tickets can be issued during the campaign. Our goal is to remind the motoring public that seat belts play a vital role in saving lives and preventing serious injuries. Ensuring that people are buckled up is paramount to accomplishing our goal of fewer fatalities this Memorial Day weekend.”

Click It or Ticket is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety and supported with federal highway safety dollars made available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information about Click It or Ticket in Illinois, go to www.buckleupillinois.org.

Illinois Memorial Day Weekend Crashes/Injuries/Fatalities*

*Crashes that occurred from 6:00 pm on Friday before Memorial Day to midnight of Memorial Day