Burr Ridge Police Announce Fourth of July Crackdown

The Burr Ridge Police Department have announced its late-night plans for the Fourth of July traffic enforcement, focusing on both impaired drivers and safety belt violators. The intensified enforcement effort will focus mainly on late-night hours because statistics show a disproportionate number of traffic deaths occur late at night and involve a drinking driver and/or unbuckled motorist, according to a prepared statement from the department.

Burr Ridge police officials are joining the Illinois State Police and nearly 300 local police and sheriff’s departments in a statewide enforcement effort that began June 17 and runs through July 4. Already police have made one impaired-driving arrest and three other significant arrests. More than $1 million in federal highway safety funds will be put toward this stepped-up effort to continue to keep Illinois roads safe during the holiday weekend.

“Nighttime is the most critical time for motor vehicle fatalities. Law enforcement is dedicated to the cause and will be stepping up our late-night enforcement efforts, making sure impaired drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up,” said Burr Ridge Police Deputy Chief Tim Vaclav. “If you drive at night, you are in our sight.”

Data shows during last year’s Fourth of July weekend (6 p.m. on July 2, 2010 until midnight July 5, 2010), 10 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in Illinois and seven of those fatalities involved a drinking driver. Additionally, 780 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes during that time period last year.

Burr Ridge police recommend two of many tips to avoid a potential crash or arrest involving impaired driving such as designating a sober driver and not letting friends or family members drive impaired.

Other important tips include:

• Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;
• If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely; Use your community’s designated driver program (Insert your local program contact information);
• Promptly report impaired drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement by pulling over and dialing 911;
• Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears their safety belt. It is your best defense against an impaired driver.

The law enforcement crackdown is funded by federal traffic safety funds through IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety. The crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign that reminds motorist , “You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” and “Click It or Ticket.”

Data shows during last year’s Fourth of July weekend (6 p.m. on July 2, 2010 until midnight July 5, 2010), that 10 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in Illinois, and seven of those fatalities involved a drinking driver.