I have written in the past about the steps the city of Chicago has taken recently to promote the safety of pedestrians. This includes an ordinance passed that makes it illegal for not making a complete stop when pedestrians are waling at a cross walk. This safety push by the city counsel and Mayor Emanual comes on the heals of 32 pedestrians hat were killed by motor vehicles in 2010. The Chicago Tribune reported last week that city officials are promoting a giant public relations campaign to spread the word pedestrian safety throughout the city. Chicago officials have been highly involved in statewide legislation introduced last week
allow speed cameras on many Chicago streets to safeguard children and other pedestrians near schools and parks. Chicago received a $545,000 grant from the federal traffic safety agency to conduct a study released this summer that pinpointed specific pedestrian-related traffic threats, including hit-and-run accidents, and to zero in on hot spots for car crashes involving pedestrians. Fines range from $50 to $500. The new state law would require drivers to stop, not simply yield, for pedestrians.
The campaign includes which includes safety messages stenciled on sidewalks, stickers inside taxis urging passengers to report reckless cab drivers and flags for people to carry to boost their visibility while crossing streets. The initiative was kicked off with the placement of 32 mannequins — representing pedestrians killed in 2010 crashes across the city — on Wacker Drive downtown from Michigan Avenue to Wells Street.
The city announced a goal to reduce pedestrian fatalities to zero by 2020. In addition to the 32 deaths last year, about 3,000 pedestrians were injured in vehicle-related accidents citywide, records show. The safety push is being conducted by the city’s Department of Transportation and Police Department, with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The pedestrian safety blitz was hinted at months ago with the launch of the city website chicagopedestrianplan.org.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago pedestrian accident or Chicago car accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free consultation at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com.