August 27, 2020 – The Illinois Department of Transportation is coming together with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Illinois law enforcement for “Saturation Saturday” on August 29th. With the unofficial end of summer coming, they are reminding motorists that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a dangerous crime. “Driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or any other drug or impairing substance is simply not worth the risk,” said Cynthia Watters, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “Luckily, it’s a risk that’s easily avoided by planning ahead for a sober ride home. Make the right choice. It’s literally a matter of life or death.”
Driving fatalities have declined over the last two decades, but data still shows that over 300 individuals die in alcohol-impaired crashes each year in Illinois alone. Drug-impaired driving has become a growing concern, with marijuana and other drug-related crash fatalities growing. “Saturation Saturday” began two years ago and was created by MADD’s Illinois chapter. Illinois State Police, sheriff’s departments and local police ramp up enforcement to stop potentially impaired drivers. The goal of “Saturation Saturday” is to save lives by reminding motorists that driving under the influence is a serious crime with sobering consequences.
