The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Drive merry, bright and sober this holiday season

Dec. 16, 2022 – With winter holiday festivities rapidly approaching, the Oak Park Police Department announced that it will participate in a national enforcement campaign to crack down on impaired and unbuckled drivers through Jan. 2.

“We want everyone in our community to enjoy the holidays without worrying about the dangers of impaired drivers,” said Police Chief Shatonya Johnson. “During the campaign, you can expect to see extra safety patrols. We will show zero tolerance for alcohol- and drug-impaired driving to help ensure everyone makes it to and from their holiday festivities safely.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, in 2020, a total of 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver.

On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, with one person killed in an alcohol-related crash every 45 minutes in 2020.

If your celebration will involve alcohol or other impairing substances, please plan ahead for a sober ride home and remember to buckle up – it’s the best defense against an impaired driver. Keep these tips in mind to help ensure a safe and joyful holiday season:

  • Before you head to the party, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely.
  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over and call 911.
  • Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take their keys and help them get home safely.
  • Always buckle up, put your children in car seats and wear a helmet if you are driving a motorcycle.

The holiday enforcement effort is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

For more information about traffic safety in Oak Park, email police@oak-park.us. Additional information about the Oak Park Police Department is available at www.oak-park.us/police