Before you hit the road this Thanksgiving, buckle up and designate a sober driver

As Illinoisans gear up for one of the busiest travel times of

the year, the Woodridge Police Department announced its plans for a traffic safety campaign focusing

on impaired and unbuckled drivers.

"Holiday traffic brings with it an increased risk for accidents," said Deputy Chief Tom Stefanson. "To

ensure your family makes it to and from your Thanksgiving feast without incident, make a conscious

choice to buckle up and plan ahead for a sober ride home."

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 15 motor vehicle crash fatalities occurred in

Illinois over the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Five of the 15 deaths occurred in crashes

involving at least one driver who had been drinking.

Woodridge Police is partnering with the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement across Illinois

for the increased statewide effort. The high-visibility crackdown will run from Nov. 22 through the

holiday weekend into the early morning hours of Dec. 2.

The "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaigns are funded by federal

traffic safety funds administered by IDOT. The crackdown runs concurrently with a media

campaign reminding motorists that impaired driving has "Life or Death" consequences. Visit

LifeOrDeathIllinois.com for more information.