St. Charles police to conduct traffic safety campaign during Labor Day weekend

ST. CHARLES – As Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer near, the St. Charles Police Department is partnering with law enforcement throughout the state to stop impaired driving and help save lives.  
 
"While celebrations marking the last days of summer may look different this year than in times past, the potential remains for an increase in the number of impaired drivers on the roads," St. Charles Police Commander Rich Clark said in a news release from the St. Charles Police Department. "Impaired driving kills more than 10,000 people in the United States each year. Please plan ahead for a safe ride home before you leave the house. It truly is a matter of life or death."

The high-visibility Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign will run through the early-morning hours of Sept. 8. During this period, motorists in St. Charles can expect to see stepped-up impaired driving patrols and seat-belt enforcement, particularly at night when seat-belt usage rates are at their lowest. Speeders and distracted drivers should also be aware.

Motorists celebrating this Labor Day are advised to remember to buckle up, designate a sober driver and don’t let other friends or family members drive drunk. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair judgment and reaction times, making driving unsafe.

Correct seat-belt use is the most effective way to protect vehicle occupants in a crash. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the statewide seat-belt usage rate is 95.2 percent, yet unbuckled occupants make up a disproportionately large number of fatalities, representing more than 50 percent of people killed in motor vehicle crashes. 
 
The enforcement effort is funded with federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.