The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Drive merry, bright and sober this holiday season

Dec. 15, 2023 – The holidays are a time for caring and sharing, which is why the Oak Park Police Department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation to spread the word about the dangers of impaired driving with a “Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High. Get a DUI.” enforcement campaign.

From Dec. 15 through Jan. 2, law enforcement across Illinois will show zero tolerance for alcohol- and drug-impaired driving to keep our roads safe and help ensure a happy holiday season.

“If you’ll be celebrating with festive drinks or other impairing substances, make a plan for a safe ride home before you leave for the party,” said Police Chief Shatonya Johnson. “Driving impaired is simply unacceptable. That’s why we make zero exceptions and arrest all impaired drivers. There are no excuses.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, in 2021, a total of 13,384 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver.

On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2017 to 2021, with one person killed in an alcohol-related crash every 45 minutes.

These fatalities are preventable, and drivers must remember that driving impaired — by alcohol, cannabis or any other substance, whether legal or not — is potentially deadly and illegal behavior.

If your celebration will involve alcohol or other impairing substances, please plan ahead for a sober ride home and remember to buckle up – it’s the best defense against an impaired driver. 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, pull over and call 911.
  • Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take their keys and help them get home safely.
  • Always buckle up, put your children in car seats and wear a helmet if you are driving a motorcycle.

The holiday enforcement effort is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

For more information about traffic safety in Oak Park, email police@oak-park.us. Additional information about the Oak Park Police Department is available at www.oak-park.us/police