LITH Police Enforce Holiday Patrols, Winter Weather Safety Tips

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — The Lake in the Hills Police Department is conducting extra, late night patrols now through Jan. 2 as part of a state-wide blitz to get impaired drivers off the roads. According to a news release from the Village of Lake in the Hills, the campaign takes place during the holiday season due to it being one of the deadliest times of the year for drunk-driving deaths.

The Lake in the Hills Police Department and other law enforcement agencies will show zero tolerance for impaired driving, due to 839 people losing their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver in December 2018, with 285 of those deaths happening during the Christmas and News Year's Day periods last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the news release, the NHTSA reported those 285 drunk driving-related deaths was a higher number than any other holiday period. These statistics show more work is still needed to end impaired driving, according to police.

For those planning on heading out on the roads in the near future, don't let the recent warm weather fool you. Winter is coming, and the police department urges drivers to be prepared and use caution, as this can make all the difference during winter weather.

According to police, AAA recommends the following cold winter weather driving tips:

• Keep a bundle of cold-weather gear in your car, such as extra food and water, warm clothing, a flashlight, a glass scraper, blankets, medications, and more.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated and have plenty of tread.
• Keep at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times.
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface, such as on ice and snow.

Tips for Driving in the Snow

• Stay home. Only go out if necessary. Even if you can drive well in bad weather, it's better to avoid taking unnecessary risks by venturing out.
• Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don't try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have anti lock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don't stop if you can avoid it. There's a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don't power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.
• Don't stop going up a hill. There's nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

Contact the Village of Lake in the Hills Police Department at 847-658-5676 for more information or if you have any questions.