Local, county and state law enforcement are stepping up patrols beginning this weekend. The goal is to reduce traffic fatalities over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Drivers can expect to see increased roadside safety checks, seat belt enforcement zones and other saturation patrols through January 4th. Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy says law enforcement is on the lookout for impaired and distracted drivers and those not wearing seatbelts.
“We don’t like to write tickets. We don’t like to take people to jail, but more than that we don’t like to handle accidents where people are hurt or killed.”
Captain Mike Welsh is the Commander for the Illinois State Police District 8. He says deaths on state roads are down overall this year, but not in the Peoria area.
“Right now, as of today, there have been 40 fatalities in the District 8 area which covers five counties. That’s up six fatalities over the same time from last year. We were at 34."
Two people were killed in traffic accidents over the Christmas holiday in Illinois last year. As of Wednesday, there have been about 880 deaths on state roads. That’s about 80 less than the same time last year.