Drive Sober campaign starts as traffic fatalities rise in Illinois

ILLINOIS (KBSI) – Driving impaired over the holidays can have major consequences legally and emotionally.

During the holidays people are out traveling on roadways much more often than usual and to ensure safety, an increase in traffic also means an increase in law enforcement.

The Illinois Department of Transportation along with Illinois State Police, and surrounding law enforcement agencies have launched the annual ‘Drive Sober Get Pulled Over Campaign’.

The campaign runs from December 15 through January 2 each year. There will be an increase in officers on the roadways during this time.

IDOT says they want to spread the message that “Impairment is impairment, whether by alcohol or drugs. Driving impaired is illegal and deadly,” said IDOT Director of Highways Project Implementation Steve Travia.

Illinois department of transportation’s spokesperson Paul Wappel says traffic fatalities in Illinois are rising. 

“Through December 14th of this year 1,214 have lost their lives to traffic crashes and that’s 11 more than the same time period in 2022.” Says Wappel. 

Wappel says if you’re planning to go out for the holidays to plan ahead by having a designated driver or schedule a ride share service, watch out for friends and family attempting to drive under the influence, and if your the designated driver then take that job seriously to ensure everyone makes it home safely.  

The penalty for driving under the influence in Illinois is jail time, the loss of a license, and more depending on the situation.