Illinois Cracks Down on Drunk Driving

 Posted on October 06, 2014 in DUI

An Illinois initiative to step up efforts to curtail drunk and drug-impaired driving began in August with a big push over Labor Day weekend. The Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and multiple municipal county and police departments statewide, including the West Chicago Police Department, joined together for its zero tolerance campaign.

In a press release issued by IDOT, motor vehicle fatalities have decreased when compared to the same timeframe last year, but they do not want to be complacent about safety regarding both impaired driving and getting drivers to buckle up. One-third of fatal crashes involve an impaired driver and the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign is designed to increase awareness and compliance of state laws.

This campaign was coupled with aggressive law enforcement on the roads during the Labor Day weekend. Roadside safety checks were implemented across the state. The West Chicago Police Department, joining with the Illinois State Police, collectively issued 73 verbal or written warnings and 66 traffic citations with two arrests over the Labor Day weekend. Efforts will continue throughout the upcoming holiday season as this is when road fatalities involving impaired drivers occur at higher rates.

The decline of motor vehicle fatalities as a result of drunk or drug-impaired drivers has prompted IDOT to maintain the trend and start an innovative advertising campaign with the help of "The Walking Dead" actor Michael Rooker. The campaign uses social media to reach out to drivers who are commonly involved in drunk driving accidents.

"The Driving Dead" TV commercial spearheads the new campaign and launches the series of short videos that show zombie characters in situations dealing with the risk of impaired driving.

If you are need of legal advice regarding a drunk driving case in Illinois, contact an experienced Arlington Heights DUI attorney today