FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GURNEE, IL ‑ July 6, 2010 - Beginning July 11th and running through July 24th, the Gurnee Police Department will be conducting occupant protection enforcement zones throughout the village. Funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these zones are being established in order to achieve the following goals:

• To increase enforcement of occupant restraint laws.
• To achieve a higher use of safety belts, child safety and booster seats.
• To achieve both especially during the overnight hours of 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM.

Occupant protection enforcement zones will be established throughout the campaign at or near the following locations:

1- Northwestern and Grandville
2- Route 132 and Belle Plaine Ave.
3- Almond Rd. and Dada Dr.
4- Cemetery Rd. and Washington St.
5- Crescent Ave. and Belle Plaine Ave.
6- First St. and Blackstone Ave.
7- Lawson Blvd. and Beachwood Ave.
8- St. Paul Ave. and Grove Ave.
9- Route 41 and Route 132

At least 50% of these zones will be established between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. Nighttime traffic safety is a priority for the Gurnee Police Department. A recent Illinois Department of Transportation study shows most fatal car crashes not only occurred from midnight to 3 a.m., but this high incidence of death is most likely because those same hours show the lowest compliance rate for buckling up.

IDOT crash data shows, of the 632 people killed in car crashes in 2009, 106 drivers or occupants were killed between the hours of 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. far and away the deadliest three hours of the day. The number killed in this three hour period is nearly 17% of all fatalities last year.