Illinois officials to crack down on Labor Day drunk driving
(Sun Times Media Wire)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — State and local police will swarm Illinois roadways this weekend in search of drunk drivers in the statewide campaign, "Driver Sober, or Get Pulled Over."
The Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police, and hundreds of municipal police and sheriff's offices will participate in the Labor Day weekend crackdown. It runs from 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Officials say 15 people were killed in traffic accidents during the 2014 holiday weekend. They want to deter impaired driving, prevent fatalities and increase safety-belt use.
A decade ago, 1,363 people died in crashes. Seat-belt use by front-seat occupants has exceeded 95 percent this year and 2014 — with 924 fatalities — marked the sixth consecutive year with fewer than 1,000 deaths.