Sheriff’s Office Stepping Up Patrols During Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend

With one of the busiest travel times of the year just around the corner, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office is reminding motorists to buckle up and drive sober to ensure everyone gets to the Thanksgiving table safely.

Throughout the year, many traffic deaths and injuries could be prevented with the click of a seat belt or the choice to designate a sober driver. More than 30 percent of motor vehicle crash fatalities in Illinois involve an alcohol-impaired driver, and data shows drug-involved driving is on the rise.

To combat these trends, the WCSO is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies in a statewide effort to save lives by stepping up enforcement of seat belt and impaired driving laws.

Motorists in the area will see this increase in safety patrols from Friday, November 20 and running through the holiday weekend to the early morning hours of Monday, November 30.

The Thanksgiving enforcement effort is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by IDOT as part of the statewide Drive Safe or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket campaigns.