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NIU Police cracking down on drunk drivers

March 13, 2015

DrvSober-CIOT combo tryThis St. Patrick’s Day, the Northern Illinois University Police Department will crack down on drunk drivers with an aggressive “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement effort, which looks to give a fair warning to all partygoers: keep the party off the road.

When most people think of St. Patrick’s Day, they think about parades and Irish-themed merriment. But far too often what they don’t think about is how they will get home safely – which makes St. Patrick’s Day one of the deadliest days on the road for drunk driving.

To keep safe this St. Patrick’s Day, NIU recommends these tips:

  • Before the Patrick’s Day festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.
  • Always designate a sober driver.
  • If you are impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, use public transportation or sleep it off at the party location.
  • Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
  • Use your community’s sober ride program. Information about NIU’s Huskie Safe Line can be found at http://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/huskie-safe-line/index.shtml
  • If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
  • If you know someone who is about to drive or ride after drinking, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.

The St. Patrick’s Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Crackdown is funded by federal traffic safety funds administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation.