PARK FOREST – With many people expected to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and law enforcement across the state for the national ‘Border to Border’ campaign, which increases seatbelt patrols and enforcement zones through Memorial Day.

“This weekend will kick off a return to summer recreation, so it’s important that every person riding in a vehicle wears their seatbelt and carefully travels to their destination,” Joyce said. “Wearing your seatbelt is the best way to protect yourself in case of an accident, and I urge all drivers and passengers to remember to do so anytime they get in a vehicle.”

Organized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as part of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, Border to Border harnesses the power of 10,000 agencies across the nation – between states, cities and jurisdictions – to increase seat belt use in order to save lives.

“Our troopers patrol day and night in order to protect and educate all motorists in the State of Illinois. As the weather continues to warm up, our troopers see an increase in motor vehicle accidents that include serious or fatal injuries, all of which could have been avoided,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “As an agency, our goal is to educate the motoring public and ensure everyone makes it home safely.”

Joyce echoes the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police in urging motorists to keep the following tips in mind when traveling:

• Buckle up. Wearing a seatbelt positions you in the vehicle safely, works with air bags to protect you and slows the body down in a crash to minimize injury.
• Slow down. Speed drastically increases the risk of injury or death in a crash.
• Sober up. Alcohol and drugs inhibit your ability to operate a vehicle. Do not use them and get behind the wheel.
• Phone down. Using a phone for talking, texting or social media is not only dangerous – it is illegal in Illinois.

The Memorial Day enforcement campaign is part of the Illinois “Click It or Ticket” campaign, supported through federal funds administered by IDOT.