llinois State Police Encourages Safe Driving Habits During the Holidays

PESOTUM – The upcoming holidays will bring family and friends together for the final major celebrations of the year.  Unfortunately, some will choose to make life-threatening driving decisions while behind the wheel.  Captain Louis Kink, District 10 Commander, encourages everyone to enjoy the holidays, but to do so responsibly.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among those aged 1-54 in the U.S., and traffic crashes are largely preventable.  If you are traveling during the holidays, please be accountable for your actions and do your part to prevent a traffic crash.
If you will be attending a holiday celebration were alcohol is involved, please make sure you use a designated driver or make necessary arrangements to ensure an intoxicated person does not get behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Before you start your trip, make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.  It is estimated that the risk of fatal injuries is cut in half when seat belts are properly worn.  Also, be sure to eliminate distractions.  Taking your eyes off the road for any reason is not a good idea.  Looking at a cell phone for five seconds at 55 mph is like driving blind for the length of a football field.
Be sure to watch your speed.  The faster you are going, the less time you have to react when trying to avoid a crash.  Furthermore, the faster you are going, the greater the chance of a crash resulting in serious injury.  
“It’s more than being involved in a crash, it’s about the devastation that a fatal car crash causes.” Captain Louis Kink added.  “Our District 10 Troopers will aggressively patrol our roadways looking for impaired drivers and other drivers whose actions may potentially cause a fatal crash.  We want everyone to arrive alive and enjoy the holiday season. Be sure to designate a driver if you will be drinking and never ride in a car with an impaired driver.  Please also remember my troopers and other authorized emergency vehicle operators have families waiting for them to return safely home.  Please move over and slow down when approaching any stationary emergency vehicles.”
Don’t ruin anyone’s festivities this holiday season.  Be accountable for your actions behind the wheel and drive responsibly.