Voluntary Compliance and Enforcement Efforts are Key to Safe Travel

Pittsfield – Lieutenant Jon Dively, D-20 Interim Commander, is reminding motorists to make safety their number one priority while driving during the Labor Day holiday weekend.  The Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest periods for motorists in Illinois.  Although the Illinois State Police (ISP) will be out patrolling Illinois roadways, it will take a combined effort to ensure a safe holiday weekend.

The ISP encourages motorists to avoid the fatal four.  Speeding, driving under the influence, distracted driving, and failing to wear your seat belt, are the four most common causes of fatal traffic crashes.  A driver traveling at a faster speed will cover more ground and have less time to react to a road hazard.  Speed is also a factor into the severity of traffic crashes.  The ISP will be monitoring speed on Illinois roadways so be sure to watch your speed this holiday weekend.

Alcohol is often present during Labor Day weekend celebrations and it is also a factor in one-third of fatal traffic crashes.  The ISP encourages those who will be traveling this holiday weekend to please designate a sober driver. 

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign began on August 22 and concludes on September 5.  During the campaign, ISP officers across the state will show zero tolerance for impaired driving and seat belt law violators.  Seat belt use remains the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in a crash.  Regardless if you’re traveling across town or across the state, be sure to buckle up.

Driving distracted takes your eyes off the road.  Looking at your phone for five seconds while traveling at interstate speeds is like driving blindfolded the length of almost two football fields.  The ISP will be on the lookout for those driving distracted this holiday weekend.  Keep your eyes on the road, not your phone.

Lt. Jon Dively reminds motorists to think twice this Labor Day weekend. Law enforcement officers statewide will be enforcing Fatal 4 violations and violators will face consequences. The message is simple “One Driving Fatality is One Too Many”, Have a safe Holliday said Dively.

The key to safe Labor Day holiday travels are to avoid the fatal four; don’t speed, drive sober, limit distractions, and buckle up.