METAMORA, Ill. — As you ring in the new decade, Illinois State Police want to remind the community to do so responsibly.
ISP Public Information Officer Haylie Polistina said if you plan to consume alcohol or cannabis, designate a sober driver or use a ride share service.
“If you have to pay the $5 Uber, it’s a lot less expensive than a night in jail and a DUI,” Polistina said.
State Police recommend designating a sober driver before going out, don’t be afraid to take someone’s keys if they should not drive, and take advantage of discounted or free ride share service offers.
“There’s deals usually out there if you look on the internet that ride share services are offering free rides. And, there’s always the taxi or Uber option,” Polistina said.
Recreational adult use cannabis will be legal on Jan. 1, and Polistina said it is still illegal to smoke and drive.
The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration conducted a study over the past five years and discovered an average of 300 people died in drunk driving crashes between the week of Christmas and New Year’s.
“The holidays are a crazy time, a lot of people on the roadway. More people are drinking, and celebrating, and having a good time,” Polistina said. “But, it’s not a good time when you lose your life, or go to jail, or hurt other people.”
The best defense against a sober driver is wearing your seat belt. It is the law to wear a seat belt no matter where you are seated in a vehicle.
“We wish everyone has a good holiday, be safe, and make the right decisions,” Polistina said.
