PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 19th, 2019
For Information Contact: Commander Jim Gandy (630) 530-3050
Drive Merry, Bright and Sober this Holiday Season!
With holiday festivities rapidly approaching, the Elmhurst Police Department is announcing its participation in a national enforcement campaign from Dec. 18 through Jan. 2 to crack down on impaired and unbuckled drivers.
“While parties are an enjoyable part of the holiday season, we urge our community members to keep the merriment off the road,” says Commander Jim Gandy. “If your celebration will involve alcohol, please plan ahead for a sober ride home and remember to buckle up—it’s the best defense against an impaired driver.”
According to fatality analysis reporting by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 839 people lost their lives last December to traffic crashes involving a drunk driver. There were 285 fatalities related to drunk driving over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays alone—more than any other period in 2018.
Keep these tips in mind to help ensure your holiday season is safe and joyful:
- Before you head to a party, designate a sober driver or plan to use either 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!
The Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is administered and funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.