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Police remind drivers safety belts save lives

Nov. 18, 2016 - The Oak Park Police Department is joining safety advocates nationwide in spreading the message about the importance of seat belts in advance of Thanksgiving weekend, one of the busiest travel times of the year.

Officials note that more cars on the road present the potential for more crashes. During Thanksgiving 2014, more than 300 people were killed in crashes across the country and more than half of those occupants killed were not wearing seat belts.

“I want to remind everyone that no matter how far you’re driving this Thanksgiving, whether it’s down the road to a friend’s house, across town to pick up a pumpkin pie, or hundreds of miles to see a relative, you could be involved in a crash,” Oak Park Police Chief Anthony Ambrose said. “And if you or anyone in your vehicle is not wearing their seat belt, everyone is at a much greater risk of being killed.”

Oak Park Police offers are focusing their efforts on reducing accidents by arresting drunk drivers and ticketing anyone in a vehicle who is not wearing a seat belt. The enforcement runs concurrently with a statewide campaign that reminds motorists to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click it or Ticket.

“Most roadway deaths are completely preventable,” Ambrose said. “Excessive speed, driving drunk or under the influence of drugs, and not wearing seat belts pose a danger to your life. We act to prevent disease and illness, but it’s time to act and prevent one of the nation’s biggest killers – car crashes.”

Oak Park Police remind motorists that children are required to ride in a car seat or booster seat until at least age 8 in Illinois, and all drivers and passengers in the front or back seat are required to wear safety belts day or night.

Designating a sober driver and not letting friends or family members drive drunk are the two most effective ways to avoid a crash or arrest for driving under the influence, police say.

“Our Thanksgiving wish this year is that everyone will realize the life-saving benefits of wearing a seat belt and driving safely,” Ambrose said. “In less time than it takes you to slice that pie, pass the gravy, or call someone to say “Happy Thanksgiving”, you can do something powerful, smart and effective. You can buckle up. You’ll be thankful you did.”

For more information on traffic safety in Oak Park, email police@oak-park.us.