News Flash

Niles Police Warn about Drinking and Driving as part of their Superbowl Celebration!

The Niles Police Department cautions all during the upcoming Superbowl festivities to exercise caution and control when it comes to celebrating the Chicago Bears versus the Indianapolis Colts in the 41st Superbowl. The Niles Police Department urges all who would imbibe to designate a driver or take public transportation. Here are some facts about drinking and driving.

The Magnitude of the Problem

• Nearly three out of every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic crash in their lifetime.
• Each year, about 8% of all police-reported motor vehicle crashes are alcohol-related.
• In Illinois during 2002, 51,649 people were arrested for driving under the influence (DUI).
• The proportion of fatal crashes that are alcohol related is approximately three times greater at night than during the day.
• Each year, about 310,000 people suffer injuries in alcohol-related traffic crashes, an average of one person injured approximately every two minutes.

• A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater is the level at which a driver is considered legally intoxicated in Illinois.
• A driver can also be arrested and prosecuted for DUI with a BAC in excess of .05 but less than .08.
• In 2002, 45.83% of fatally injured drivers who were tested for a BAC level were found to have been drinking, and 39.54% had a BAC of .08 or greater.

• Although 16-24 year olds comprise only 15.52% of the licensed drivers in the state, they are involved in 38.85% of all fatal alcohol-related crashes.
• In 2002, nearly 32% of the fatally injured teenaged drivers (age 16-19) were legally intoxicated
• 224 young adult drivers between 16 and 24 years old were killed in fatal crashes in 2002. Of these, 106 had a BAC level of .08 or greater
• Nearly 33% of the fatally injured teenage drivers (age 16-19) were drinking prior to their crash.
• Of the 396 drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2002 and found to be legally intoxicated, 35.10% were between 16 and 24 years of age.
• Almost 37 percent of the fatally injured drivers under age 21 who were tested for BAC were drinking prior to their crash. 39.66% were at .08 BAC or greater.
• In Illinois in 2002, 83 children under the age of 16 were killed in motor vehicle crashes.
• Illinois' zero tolerance law became effective January 1, 1995 . Each year there are approximately 3,000 zero tolerance violations recorded.

• Safety belts were used in 12.3% of fatally injured intoxicated (BAC 0.08) drivers as compared to 36.7% of sober drivers killed in crashes.
• Drivers involved in fatal crashes who have been drinking use safety belts at a substantially lower rate than sober drivers.