Chicago, IL – Drivers across Illinois are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as one of the busiest drinking nights of the year overlaps with heavy Thanksgiving travel along major routes including I-90, I-94, I-55, and I-290.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—widely known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of America’s top alcohol-consumption nights. In 2022, liquor orders jumped 156% compared to the previous Wednesday, while beer sales increased 85% and cocktail orders grew 69%. Public-health experts say the combination of holiday stress, short workweeks and pre-Thanksgiving gatherings fuels widespread binge drinking.
National traffic-safety data shows drivers are 55% more likely to encounter an impaired motorist on Thanksgiving than on an average day. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 830 people nationwide were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving travel period.
Illinois State Police, along with departments in Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Naperville and Champaign, are significantly expanding DUI patrols Wednesday night. Troopers say I-90, I-94, I-55, I-290, and major nightlife hubs—such as River North, Wrigleyville, downtown Springfield, Champaign’s Campustown and popular suburban entertainment districts—historically see spikes in impairment-related incidents as college students return home and bar traffic surges.
Similar trends appear nationwide. Cities like Indianapolis and Minneapolis report Blackout Wednesday can surpass New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests. Officials warn Illinois faces similar risks due to dense interstate travel, packed bar corridors and early holiday departures from Chicago’s major airports.
Drivers are urged to avoid late-night travel, plan sober transportation and report suspected impaired drivers immediately.
