Drive Sober this Holiday Season or Get Pulled Over!

drive-sober-350x330With holiday festivities rapidly approaching, the Buffalo Grove Police Department has announced it will participate in a national enforcement campaign to crack down on impaired and unbuckled drivers for the period between December 17, 2019 and January 2, 2020.

“While parties are an enjoyable part of the holiday season, we urge community members to keep the merriment off the road,” said Sergeant Michelle Kondrat. “If your celebration will involve alcohol, please plan ahead for a sober, designated driver, and remember to buckle up – it’s the best defense against an impaired driver.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 839 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver in December of 2018. Throughout the Christmas and New Year’s holidays alone, there were 285 drunk-driving-related fatalities – more than any other time that year. 

Keep these tips in mind to help ensure a safe and joyful holiday season:
 
  • Before you head to the party, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely. 
  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, please pull over and dial 911.
  • Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take their keys and help them get home safely.
  • Always buckle up!

The Illinois ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign is administered and funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.