SPRINGFIELD –– With the Thanksgiving holiday weekend approaching, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is reminding drivers to celebrate safely and not drink and drive.
Thanksgiving weekend has become one of the single most dangerous days of the year for drunk driving crashes. Last year, 22 people were killed in Illinois, 15 were involved in alcohol-related crashes. The holiday had the highest number of alcohol related fatalities of all of 2000, including New Years, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Christmas.
"Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and give thanks for our family, friends and our country and the values it was founded upon," White said. Let's not ruin such a special time for ourselves and others by drinking and driving."
The Thanksgiving holiday period lasts from 6 p.m. Wednesday until midnight on Sunday.
White also reminds drivers that your best defense against a drunk driver is your safety belt.
Illinois State police, Secretary of State police and local law enforcement will be out patrolling the roadways looking for drunk drivers.
