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December 20, 2005

Dave Druker
Elizabeth Kaufman

Secretary White Advises Drivers to Be Safe This Holiday Season
Designate A Sober Driver

CHICAGO — Secretary of State Jesse White advised motorists to celebrate the holiday season safely and to remember the best defense against a drunk driver is a safety belt.

"Let's celebrate the season safely and responsibly by driving sober," White said. "This is the time of year when we focus on family and friends. Let's not experience a tragedy in our family or someone else's because of impaired driving. Stay where you are or designate a sober driver."

• During the 2004 Christmas weekend in Illinois, there were 11 crash fatalities, four of which were alcohol-related.
• During the 2004 New Year's weekend in Illinois, there were five crash fatalities, three of which were alcohol-related.
• In 2004, 45 percent or 604 out of 1,356 of the fatalities in Illinois were alcohol-related. Nationally that year, alcohol-related crashes took the lives of 16,694 people, which is 39 percent of the 42,636 traffic deaths that occurred.

White's office is working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to distribute red ribbons for the "Tie One on for Safety" program, which encourages drivers to tie a red ribbon on their cars as a sign that they are safe and sober drivers. Those ribbons are available at driver's license facilities across the state.

The Secretary of State's office will join the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and law enforcement agencies to enforce the Click It or Ticket campaign to increase safety belt usage during the holiday season. Secretary of State police will be conducting DUI and seatbelt patrols during the holiday season, White said.