Authorities advise this Thanksgiving: Buckle up and drive sober

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and local law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois are reminding motorists to buckle up and drive sober this Thanksgiving holiday. The day before Thanksgiving, sometimes called Blackout Wednesday, can be an evening with many drunk drivers. During the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 12 people were killed in motor vehicle-related crashes in Illinois, four of which were drug/alcohol related.
“Whether you’re traveling a few blocks or several hundred miles, remember to always wear your seat belt and plan for a sober ride home,” said Cynthia Watters, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “Too frequently, law enforcement sees the tragic results of driving impaired and not wearing a seat belt, both of which are the leading causes of deaths on our roads and easily preventable.”