Enforcing traffic laws saves lives

To the editor:

I would like to ensure that motorists traveling during the holiday weekend stay alive to celebrate their next birthdays. We in the Illinois State Police District 13 are adamant in our efforts to enforce the laws that are known to, if violated, bring injury and death to those traveling our roadways. These fatal five violations -- speeding, driving under the influence, failure to wear seat belts, following too closely, improper lane usage -- are proven to be the contributing causes of death in a high percentage of all crashes. Traffic deaths are ameliorated by reducing these violations through enforcement and education.

There are unintended benefits of a trooper patrolling the roadways. That speeding violator, upon seeing the trooper, may slow down just in time to prevent an accident.

We are proud of the fact that our fatality rate is below last year's rate, a statistic attributed to enforcement efforts of the seat-belt laws, voluntary compliance and our partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation. Troopers will be working hard this holiday through Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Efforts) with our local police partners.

Capt. MICHAEL IRWIN, Commander, Illinois State Police District 13, DuQuoin, Ill.