Northbrook Police Begin Holiday Driving Crackdown

The Northbrook Police Department begins its "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over/Click It or Ticket" holiday campaign today aimed at stopping drunk drivers and seat belt violators, the department announced in a press release.

The initiative is specifically targeting offenders between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. because those are considered the most deadly hours on the road. 

"According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the midnight to 3 a.m. time frame is the deadliest time on Illinois roadways, and 9 p.m. is the time of day when data shows that alcohol involvement and low seat belt use begins to play a much more significant role in motor vehicle fatalities," the release states. "Data shows alcohol and lack of belt use continues throughout the night time hours until 6 a.m."

“The numbers do not lie. We will be stepping up our late-night enforcement efforts, making sure drunk drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up,” said Traffic Officer Christopher Lacina, in the release.

The department recommends the following ways to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe this season:

• Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.
• If you are drunk, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement.
• Wear your seat belt and make sure all passengers are buckled up. It is your best defense against a drunk driver.