The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office announced today it will conduct special patrols this Super Bowl weekend, looking for and cracking down on alcohol and drug-impaired drivers.
“We are reminding everyone to drive sober this weekend in DeKalb County or get pulled over!” said Sgt. Ryan Pettengell. “If you plan on drinking alcohol while cheering your teem on to victory, pass your keys to a sober, designated driver before the Super Bowl party begins.
“Weekends are often a deadly time on our roads and this weekend in particular can be even more dangerous, due to impaired drivers,” said Sgt. Ryan Pettengell. “That’s why we will be working overtime with increased deputies patrolling the streets specifically working DUI saturation patrols to catch and arrest anyone who is driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.”
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2014 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in the United States – 31 percent of all vehicle crash fatalities in the nation. The numbers go even higher on weekends. (There were 5,447 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, making up 40 percent of all fatalities that occurred during weekends.)
Sgt. Ryan Pettengell said that always designating a sober driver and not letting friends drive impaired are just two of several simple steps to help avoid a tragic crash or a DUI arrest. Other important tips include:
- Call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;
- Report impaired drivers to law enforcement;
- Spend the night where the activity is being held and sleep it off:
- Always buckle up – it’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
“We will show zero tolerance,” said Sgt. Ryan Pettengell. “So remember, designate your sober driver before the parties begin.”
The law enforcement crackdown is funded by federal traffic safety funds through IDOT and is part of Illinois Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.
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