It’s time for family, food but it’s also the time of year when the most traffic accidents occur.
Increased time on the road for the holiday leads to more automobile crashes.
That’s why law enforcement across the state, including Galesburg will be on increased alert next week, looking for drivers impaired behind the wheel and for those not wearing seat belts.
According to the Galesburg Police Department, in 2013 more than 300 people in the U.S. were killed in traffic accidents on Thanksgiving weekend alone.
The Click It Or Ticket program in Illinois has been in place since 2000. The Illinois Department of Transportation estimates that it’s saved over 4,000 lives.
A seat belt ticket will cost a minimum of $60 but they say the goal is to prevent injuries and fatalities, not take in fines.
According to IDOT males 18-34 are the least likely to buckle their seat belt, in particular males that drive pick-up trucks.
