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Click it or ticket!

May 22, 2015

NHTSA logo: Click It or Ticket Day & NightThis weekend, NIU police will join with DeKalb and Illinois State Police in conducting roving patrols and roadside safety checks to focus on impaired drivers.

Police are advising drivers to wear their seatbelts, keep their eyes on the road and drive the speed limit. Consider the following information:

  • Over the Memorial Day weekend in 2014, state police arrested 147 intoxicated drivers, according to a news release from the state police.
  • Late night hours are the most dangerous driving hours, when the highest percentage of motorists die in alcohol-involved crashes and seat belt use is the lowest.
  • According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans. Seat belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year.The best defense against a drunk driver is a seat belt. Buckle up – every trip, every time, every vehicle, every position.
  • If you drink, designate a sober driver.

“Our goal during Memorial Day weekend is to keep our motorists safe during their travels,” State Police District 2 Capt. Brian Windle said in a news release.

It’s also against Illinois law to use an electronic device while driving. Hands-free technology is allowed for drivers older than 18.