As summer traveling season approaches, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies Wednesday announced the \u201cClick It or Ticket\u201d campaign to crack down on seat belt law violators and impaired drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout Illinois, Memorial Day means the start of summer road trips and an increase in traffic,\u201d said IDOT Director of Highways Project Implementation Steve Travia. \u201cWith additional vehicles on the roads, it\u2019s more important than ever to take standard safety precautions. Make seat belt use an automatic habit. It\u2019s not just the safe thing to do \u2013 it\u2019s the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the Memorial Day campaign, which runs through May 30, law enforcement will step up traffic safety efforts, reminding drivers and their passengers of the importance of buckling up and the potential consequences of not wearing a seat belt.<\/p>\n
The increase in traffic that accompanies summer holiday weekends almost always correlates with an increase in fatalities. Last year\u2019s Memorial Day weekend \u2013 the period from 6 p.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Monday \u2013 saw 14 crashes resulting in 15 fatalities in Illinois.<\/p>\n
Preliminary IDOT data shows that between 2020 and 2022, there were 2,475 traffic fatalities in Illinois. Of those, 979 were properly buckled in a seat belt or child safety seat. That means more than 60% of those who died in crashes during this timeframe were not buckled properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Memorial Day weekend is often seen as the unofficial start of summer, a time when people want to get out and hit the open road,\u201d said ISP Division of Patrol Col. Margaret McGreal. \u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s also a weekend where we see an increase in fatal crashes. Holiday weekend or not \u2013 wear your seat belt, don\u2019t speed, and don\u2019t drive distracted or under the influence.\u201d<\/p>\n