Wilmington police urge Halloween partygoers to plan a sober ride home

Wilmington police are urging residents to arrange a sober ride home before heading out to Halloween parties, warning that alcohol, cannabis and other drugs make driving dangerous.“It’s Not a Game,” the department said, echoing the Illinois Department of Transportation’s statewide traffic safety campaign.About 30% of traffic deaths in Illinois involved drivers impaired by alcohol, drugs or a combination of substances, according to IDOT’s 2023 annual highway safety report.Halloween night carries its own risks. From 2019 through 2024, 201 people were killed nationwide in alcohol-related crashes on Halloween night, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 176 of those deaths, a driver had a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08%, the agency reported.“Alcohol and cannabis impair your ability to drive safely,” Deputy Chief Dole said in the department’s release. “That’s why it’s crucial to plan how you’ll get home before you head out.”Police recommend designa