Yingling Highlights Impaired Driving Prevention Month

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – With December being Impaired Driving Prevention Month, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is reminding residents to make sure that they are driving safely throughout the holiday season and beyond.

“While the holiday season is a time to relax and have fun, it is still important that we put safety first,” Yingling said. “Regardless of the season, it is never okay to jeopardize your safety and the safety of others to drive impaired.”

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month was put into place to raise awareness about the effects that impaired driving has on communities. According to the Center for Disease Control, twenty-nine people die a day in crashes involving a drunk driver, accounting for 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. The CDC recommends several steps that residents can take to keep themselves safe, including designating a non-drinking driver in a group before drinking or using a ride share service, taxi, or getting a ride instead of driving after drinking or using drugs.

Since entering the General Assembly, Yingling has worked to keep his constituents safe and healthy. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he supported a bill that included $719 million in new funding for public health.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic causing many to place an added emphasis on health and safety this year, it is important to keep in mind that taking small steps, such as driving safely, is still a crucial way to keep everyone safe,” said Yingling. “Before you get behind the wheel, please take a moment to make sure that you are doing so safely to make sure that everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.”