Category Archives: Distracted Driving Laws

2012 Could Bring New Traffic Laws In Illinois

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Last week, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White held his Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety meeting in Springfield, which revealed several new laws that could be proposed in 2012. The Daily Herald reported that Secretary White discussed some interesting new laws that could be crossing the governor’s desk by the end of the year. Below are some of the proposed laws:

• Requiring helmets for motorcycle riders and passengers.

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Banning drivers from using hand-held cellphones.

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Tightening the penalties for misuse of disabled parking placards and licenses. 

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Eliminating a loophole allowing 18-year-olds to obtain a license without any
formal driver’s ed classes.

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Upping the age teens can apply for learners’ permits from 15 to 16 and
strengthening nighttime restrictions.

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Cracking down on repeat offenders caught driving without insurance and driving
on a suspended license.

I think it will be impossible to pass a complete cell phone ban.  Distracted driving has become a huge epidemic in Illinois and throughout the country as it has been proven to be a major cause of car crashes in the law few years. As I have suggested before on this blog, I think one way to curb distracted driving car accidents is to stiffen the penalties against drivers who cause vehicle accidents while using their cell phones. One possibility is increasing the penalties to the same level as a drunk driving accident. It takes time for drivers to adapt to new laws (i.e. seat belt laws) before they begin to change their driving habits. If drivers know they could face stiffer penalties if they text and then cause an accident, it may persuade people to put their phones down when driving.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago accident attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free consultation at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com. 

Oak Park, IL Considers Ban On Eating & Driving

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It is illegal to text and drive and Illinois. The law was enacted to prevent distracted drivers from causing car accidents. It was reported today in the Local Trib online site, that the town of Oak Park, which is located just west of Chicago, is considering an ordinance that would outlaw eating and driving. This is another step by local governments to help curb distracted driving accidents in their communities. A benefit that the town pointed out was that if tickets were issued, and are contested, they would be heard at the Village court call rather than the Cook County court call in Maywood. This apparently apparently would help the officer logistically attend court.

The ordinance was referred to the village’s legal department and it is not known when it will come back to the board. Trustees will be planning the 2012 budget for the next two months before going on their annual December hiatus, so the ordinance might not be addressed until next year.

It will be interesting to see if other Chicago area towns follow in Oak Park’s footsteps if this new law passes.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free consultation at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com.

Insurance Study Questions Effectiveness Of Distrated Driving Laws

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The Washington Post published an article last week that discussed a study performed by the Highway Lost Data Institute (an Insurance industry group). The study reveals that distracted driving laws, such as bans on texting and cell phone use while driving, has not decreased the number of car accidents in several states. The study looked a car accident data from New York, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C.

The organization found that claims rates did not go down after the laws were enacted. It also found no change in patterns compared with nearby states without such bans.

Adrian Lund, the group’s president, said the finding doesn’t bode well “for any safety payoff from all the new laws.”

Not everyone is happy with the results of this study and the way this information is being handled.  Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also has been campaigning against texting and cell phone use while driving. In a blog post Friday, LaHood dismissed the new study’s conclusions as irresponsible and said the study will lead people “to wrongly conclude that talking on cell phones while driving is not dangerous.”

The Post did not provide a link to the actual study but it seems a little premature to come to such a drastic conclusion. Saying the new law “do not work” seems overreaching at this point. I would like to look at the actual study and the numbers first as this article does state whether the data is looking at the gross number of accidents or accidents believed to be caused by distracted drivers. It will be interesting to see how safety groups around the country respond to the study and its’ findings.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.