ILLINOIS - Troopers will be on the Lookout for Speeding, DUI, Driving Distracted and Seatbelt Compliance Carmi, Ill., Illinois State Police (ISP) District 19 Commander, Captain Kelly Hodge, would like to remind motorists to make safety their number one priority while driving during the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The Labor Day weekend is one the busiest driving periods for motorists and millions of people are expected to hit the roadways and interstates nationwide.
Law Enforcement officials will push for ZERO fatalities by enforcing the four most common causes of fatal crashes: Speeding, DUI, Seat Belts, and Distracted Driving. Troopers will patrol the roadways looking for fatal four violations. At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to be involved in a serious crash.
Driving under the influence continues to be a factor in fatal crashes. Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United Sates involve drunk drivers. During the Labor Day weekend in 2013, there were 424 crash fatalities nationwide. Almost half (48 percent) of those fatal crashes involved alcohol.
"Our goal is to ensure all travelers make it safe to their destinations this upcoming holiday weekend. As a result, in addition to impaired and distracted drivers, troopers will be focusing on those motorists driving too fast and not wearing seatbelts," said Commander Hodge.
Illinois State Police are responsible for the public safety of the citizens of Illinois and patrol more than 20,000 miles of the state's highways.