Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Chicago teens are encouraged to participate in the "JST DRV" Radio PSA Contest being held nationwide. The Business Journals recently announced a trip to Honolulu for the Youth Traffic Safety Conference and $1,000 to the teen who creates the best public service announcement targeting distracted driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 164 lives were claimed in 2008 involving young drivers in Illinois car accidents.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers recommend that teens participate in the competition in order to better understand what a serious problem driving distracted is in this country. In 2009, the NHTSA reported over 5,400 fatalities and 448,000 injuries in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted driving.

Data provided showed that 16% of fatal crashes involved distracted driving in 2009. The under-20 age group had the highest percentage of involvement in distracted driving fatal crashes at 16%.

"A quarter of all teens admit to texting behind the wheel and, in 2009, the highest proportion of distracted drivers in fatal crashes was under the age of 20," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We know we have to engage teens in order to put an end to distracted driving. With their help, we can educate teens and adults about making smarter choices that will save lives."

The National Road Safety Foundation and National Student Safety Program are two organizations launching the PSA contest. Teens participating in the "JST DRV" Radio PSA Contest must be between ages 14-18 and are required to submit a 15-30 second voice announcement about the risks and dangers of driving distracted. In addition to the first place prize, three runners-up will each receive a $500 scholarship along with a Bluetooth hands-free device.

"The JST DRV Radio PSA Contest hopes to engage young people in communicating important messages about distracted driving in their own voice," said Michelle Anderson, operations director of the National Road Safety Foundation.

For more information about the contest, you can visit www.nrsf.org or www.adtsea.org/nssp. The deadline for entries is March 25, 2011. The winning message will be broadcast in May during National Youth Traffic Safety Month.

Continue reading " Contest aims to reduce Illinois car accidents among teens " »

The installation of red light cameras is saving lives according to a recent study by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Chicago is one of 14 cities used in the study to determine if red light cameras decrease the number of Illinois car accidents occurring at intersections.

The recent study shows our Chicago personal injury attorneys that, despite the outrage by Chicago drivers regarding red light cameras, they are helping to minimize tragedies at intersections. The report contends if cameras had been installed in all large cities there would have been 815 lives saved during the last five years.

This based on the fact that 159 lives were saved during this same time period in the cities that utilize red light cameras. The study showed that fatal red light running crashes decreased by 24% from 2004-2008.

The City of Chicago indicates that red light camera enforcement began back in 2003 when the City started a pilot program at two intersections: Peterson and Western, and 55th and Western. These two locations were chosen based on available crash data. By the beginning of 2010, a total of 189 intersections had the red light cameras installed. Chicago drivers can go to the city's website for a full list of red light camera intersections located in Chicago.

According to Chicago Sun Times, there is speculation of how effective the cameras are, with some arguing rear-end collisions and other accidents have resulted in an increase in fatalities at intersections.

City officials find the installation of red light cameras cost effective in the sense that it isn't taking manpower to cite the violation. But Chicago drivers remain outraged by the $100 citations according to a recent article in Medill Reports Chicago.

The article explains that tickets are issued when drivers fully enter an intersection after a light turns red which includes drivers who roll through right turns. Motorists will not be issued a ticket if they enter an intersection before the light turns red, come to a complete stop before making a right turn, or pull ahead of the white line but don’t' fully enter the intersection. Proceeding through an intersection illegally triggers an underground sensor which takes three pictures and records a 12-second video. Last year, 52,511 Chicago drivers contested the red light camera violation that they were cited for.

There were a total of 763,419 red light tickets issued in Chicago last year.

Chicago Breaking News reports red light camera citations have become easier to dispute upon the recent law passed January 1st of this year. The new law offers flexibility to motorists cited for a camera violation. In an effort to stop abuse of red light cameras the new law allows drivers the following:

-There will be more room permitted when creeping up to the edge of an intersection before coming to a complete stop.

-Turning right without stopping is still not permitted but it will no longer be required of drivers to come to a stop at a white line several feet away from the intersection.

-Law enforcement officers or retired officers hired to look at violations must review and approve citations.

-Chicago or Cook County violations must have video reviewed by police officers, retired officers, or fully trained technicians hired for this purpose.

-All ticketed motorists must be given access to the video for viewing on the internet.

Continue reading " Red-light camera debate continues; fewer Chicago car accidents reported " »

Most people would agree old habits die hard. Is it therefore more likely that distracted driving leading to Chicago car accidents breaking a habit rather than understanding the law.

Our Illinois personal injury attorneys believe it’s a combination of both. Drivers allow themselves to get distracted by cell phones while driving. But some may not necessarily aware that Illinois passed a ban on texting law for all drivers a little over a year ago.

A recent article in Chicago Tribune reported an online survey indicated that 40% of Illinois Tollway customers didn't know texting and driving was illegal.

Texting was banned for all drivers in Illinois January 1, 2010. The use of hand-held cell phones was banned in 2005. More than 500 vehicle crashes occurred in Illinois during the first 6 months of 2010 due to cell phone and texting.

There were almost 5,500 fatalities in the United States in 2009 as a result of a distracted driving. Distracted driving was the cause of 16% of overall traffic fatalities in 2008 and 2009.

The Illinois Department of Transportation recently announced a new statewide campaign "Drive Now. Text Later."

The campaign features a succession of three professionals: a school bus driver, airline pilot, and surgeon that remind drivers "He should be focused….and so should you."

The results of the online survey raised some eyebrows. "We were surprised to learn that so many of our customers were simply not aware that texting while driving is illegal in Illinois," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. "This campaign is intended to remind us of the potentially deadly consequences that go along with texting while driving. Our customers need to focus on safe driving and remember that they can’t do both."

Posters will be placed at tollbooths, stores, rest stops, and driver's license facilities. Public service announcements will be heard through radio and television. Bumper stickers and adhesive window stickers will be placed on vehicles. A roadway message board is another method that will be used to express the dangers of texting while driving.

Illinois residents will be able to go to a website that will feature downloadable information like safety tips, a fact sheet, and print-ready posters and fliers.

"Distracted driving is an extremely dangerous activity that continues to plague our society today," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. "We hope the joint ‘Drive Now. Text Later.’ campaign involving the Illinois Tollway, IDOT, State Police, Secretary of State and AAA Chicago will immediately impact and positively shape motorist behavior statewide. This historic partnership between state and private organizations demonstrates our collective commitment to continuously and effectively improve traffic safety on Illinois roadways."

State officials are doing their part but Chicago drivers need to now do theirs by paying attention and obeying the law.

Continue reading " Anti-texting campaign aims to reduce number of Illinois car accidents caused by distracted driving " »

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers cannot profess to be breaking big news when we say it is shaping up to be a brutal winter in Illinois and throughout the Midwest. Reviewing safe winter driving tips with your family, and making sure your vehicle is in proper working order, remains critical as we all hope Punxsutawney Phil was right in forecasting an early spring.

As we reported last month on our Chicago Car Accident lawyers blog, safety around Chicago snowplows is another important aspect when it comes to avoiding a winter-weather car accident in Chicago or the surrounding area.

Gov. Pat Quinn began the week by issuing a Disaster Declaration. And the Illinois Department of Transportation activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield.

“The entire Midwest region of the country is expected to be hit with a serious winter storm over the next few days, and it is important that we are prepared so that Illinois residents are safe and warm in the days ahead,” said Governor Quinn. “We will be increasing efforts to make sure that our roads are clear and that our most vulnerable residents are staying indoors and staying warm.”

Those who have a choice should stay off the roads during winter weather events so road crews can work to restore safe travel and emergency crews are not distracted by dozens of minor crashes. “But it’s also important that people prepare themselves for this storm by stocking their homes with food, water, flashlights, radios and other necessities.” said Joe Kilinger, Illinois' EMA director.

Illinois Storm Safety Tips include:

-Don't travel unless absolutely necessary. Check the forecast and make someone aware of your travel route.

-Give snow plows plenty of room to operate. DO NOT count on a plow operator being able to see you.

-Beware of black ice. Take it slow at intersections, highway ramps, bridges and shady areas.

-Maintain at least two-thirds of a tank of gas.

-Carry an emergency kit, including traction material, blankets, food and first-aid.

-Carry a fully charged cell phone.

-Buckle up.

-Get interstate conditions at 1-800-452-IDOT or www.gettingaroundillinois.com.

Continue reading " Tough winter increases risk of Chicago car accidents " »