Monthly Archives: December 2024

Lake County Launches Holiday Driving Safety Program

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The holiday season is upon us and there are records numbers of people on the roads in the Chicagoland area. People are driving to visit family, go on vacation or just attending holiday parties. It’s important to take precautions before hitting the road this year. According to Patch.com, the Lake County Illinois Sheriff’s office and the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) are launching a holiday safety traffic initiative called  “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High, Get a DUI.” The program runs from December 17 through January 2.

The Lake County Sheriff’s office is urging all drivers to plan ahead and do the following before getting behind the wheel:

  • Plan ahead — Designate a sober driver, use public transportation, or arrange for a ride-sharing service.
  • Report dangers — If you spot an impaired driver, pull over safely and dial 911.
  • Buckle up — It’s your best defense against impaired drivers.

There will be extra police enforcement on the roads looking for excessive speeders, drunk and distracted drivers. The funding for the program comes from the President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill through the National Highway Traffic Administration and the funds are administered by IDOT.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then please call the Chicago accident lawyers at the Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or you can go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

IDOT Announces Delay In Kennedy Express Lane Opening

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I wrote earlier this fall that the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) was expected to complete the construction on the I-90/94 (“Kennedy”) express lane construction by the “late fall.” Unfortunately they did not meet their own deadline as they announced this week that the express lanes would not open back up until mid-January 2025.

IDOT blames the delay on “software issues.” In their press release they stated, “Due to the complexity of the overall Reversible Lane Access Control system, additional time is needed to ensure the safety components are fully integrated and their functions operating seamlessly.”

This means continued gridlock on the Kennedy, especially from O’Hare airport down to the loop. The entire Kennedy construction project is $150 million project is expected to be completed next year. Phase 3 of the project includes construction on the outbound lanes.

Although discouraging that the express lane project was delayed, I think this is the safest and most prudent way for IDOT to proceed. It could be incredibly dangerous if there are any glitches with the entrance and exits of the express lanes. Let’s hope they actually meet this deadline.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago accident lawyers at the Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or click here to go to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.  

Illinois State Police Announce Results of Click It or Ticket Enforcement Program

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I wrote a few months back regarding the Illinois State Police’s (“ISP) special enforcement period referred to as “Click it or Ticket.” The ISP increased daytime and nighttime patrols focused on enforcing impaired driving, occupant restraint, speeding, and distracted driving, with the ultimate goal of lowering traffic fatalities in Central Illinois.

The ISP announced recently the following results:

Occupant Restraint Violations 12
Driving Under the Influence and Drug/Alcohol-Related Citations 0
Speeding Citations and Warnings 24
Distracted Driving Citations and Warnings 3
Total Citations 45
Total Written Warnings 2

Surprisingly there were no DUI arrests during this enforcement period. I think we can view this as a positive result as people seem to be more cautious or reticent to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. I will be interested to see if there a decrease in traffic crashes during this time. The Illinois Department of Transportation provided funding for the Click It or Ticket program.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an Illinois car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago accident attorneys at the Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Winter Driving Tips Provided By IDOT

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Winter in Chicago is hear and with it comes slick roads, snow, ice and fog. These conditions can limit visibility and make driving much more dangerous. The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) issued some valuable winter weather driving tips that will hopefully make your time behind the wheel much safer.

IDOT suggests drivers follow these rules and tips:

  • Always wear a seat belt. It’s the law in Illinois.
  • Slow down. Slower speeds, slower acceleration, slower steering and slower braking all are required in winter driving conditions.
  • Drop it and drive. Put down the handheld devices – it, too, is the law in Illinois.
  • Don’t crowd the plow. A snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they may not see you.
  • Avoid using cruise control in snow and ice.
  • Watch out for black ice on roads that appear clear but can be treacherous.
  • Be especially careful approaching intersections, ramps, bridges and shady areas. All are prone to icing.
  • Do not travel during bad weather unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to make a trip, check the forecast and make sure someone is aware of your travel route. Consider taking public transportation if it is an option.
  • Prepare an emergency kit that contains jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, a small ice scraper, traction material, blankets, non-perishable food and a first-aid kit.
  • Carry a cell phone and a car charger in case of emergency.
  • Follow Scott’s Law. Slow down and move over for stopped emergency, construction and maintenance vehicles.

This list is a pretty exhaustive list, but should probably be followed year round. The suggestion that often gets overlooked is putting down your phone. If you need to use your phone for directions and you don’t have a screen that your phone can connect to, I highly recommend placing it on a stand so that you can easily follow the directions without taking your eye off the road. Of course, if you do have to use the phone, it is always safer to pull over to make that call or send that text or email.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois accident attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC. for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website by clicking www.blgchicago.com.

Illinois Tollways Launch New Traffic Managment Technology

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The Illinois Tollway Highway Authority announced this week that they were activating SmartRoad technology on the northern section of the 22-mile Central Tri-State Tollway (1-294).

SmartRoad, which recieved funding from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure legislation, will provid eal-time, lane-specific information on message boards detailing traffic incidents and lane closure notifications. It will aim to provide improved travel time information through upgraded traffic sensors, which will also be installed on ramps to monitor for potential backups. The technology will also provid inside lane and shoulder flex lanes, enabling the tollway to shift traffic around incidents and reduce backups. There will also be new high-definition roadway cameras and upgraded weather stations.

The technology will be placed placed every half mile between 95th Street and Balmoral Avenue on I-294. This will hopefully ease traffic in the area which will hopefully improve traffic congrestion on adjacent highways such as I-90/94. According to Illinois Tollways, more than 220,000 vehicles use the Central Tri-State Tollway daily.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois personal injury lawyers at the Bryant Law Group, LLC for a free legal consultation or go directly to firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.