Will Smart Highways Help Prevent Auto Accidents In Illinois?

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The Chicago
Tribune reported last month about an interesting investment being made
by the state of Illinois. Government officials are hoping a $45 million dollar
investment into highway technology will help decrease traffic congestion and
hopefully car accidents. 

Traffic
engineers are focusing initially on the Edens Expressway and the northern
stretch of U.S. Highway 41 and will begin incorporating a mix of existing and
new technology during the next two years, an undertaking that could spread to
the entire Chicago-area expressway system.

“We are trying to
fix a lot of problems with very cost-efficient solutions that can be introduced
relatively soon,” IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider said.

Those technologies include
travel-time estimates using motorists’ Bluetooth devices, bus-on-shoulder
service during rush hour, and traffic cameras along every interchange.

A major part of the
project will be a series of radar devices designed to detect wrong-way drivers
and warn other motorists about them. The problem causes more than 300
fatalities a year nationwide, according to the National Transportation Safety
Board.

The system, similar to
one already being tested in Peoria, will alert the wrong-way driver by
triggering flashing red lights, telling the driver not to enter the highway,
according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. It will also broadcast
warnings on electronic signs to warn oncoming drivers to stay in the far-right
lane to help prevent collisions, IDOT officials said.

Wrong-way drivers, the
vast majority of whom are intoxicated or older drivers, tend to steer to the
far right, which in the wrong direction of travel is the left lane for
right-way drivers, officials said.

In addition to alerting
drivers, the system could feed information to IDOT and the Illinois State
Police, said Steve Travia, IDOT’s bureau chief of Chicago-area traffic
operations.

The various projects are
in the preliminary engineering stage and construction will be done in phases, likely
starting in two years, Travia said. Schneider said she is hoping to accelerate
the schedule. Projects would be extended over time to other expressways in the
area.

I love investments like
these made by our government.  I will be interested to see what the results of these studies are and
whether more money will be invested. I would also like to see investments in studies that would provide information on how to deal with traffic congestion throughout Chicago. As we know traffic jams often arise due to car crashes and vice versa. 

If you or someone you
love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then
call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free legalconsultation at 312-588-3384. 

IIHS Study Shows Red Light Cameras Are Working

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 I have written on this blog multiple times about red light cameras and whether they actually make intersections safer for drivers and pedestrians. There have been studies and critics have stated in the past that the cameras are money grab for local governments and that they don’t actually decrease the number of car accidents.

 Well, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (“IIHS”) recently completed a study in Arlington Virginia, which concluded that these cameras are actually decreasing the number of red light infractions. The study found found that red light running rates declined at Arlington, Va., intersections equipped with cameras. The decreases were particularly large for the most dangerous violations, those happening 1½ seconds or longer after the light turned red. “This study provides fresh evidence that automated enforcement can get drivers to modify their behavior,” says Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at IIHS and the study’s lead author.

 To calculate how the cameras affected violation rates, researchers at the Institute, which is located in Arlington, videotaped traffic during the warning period, a month after ticketing began and again after a year. In addition to the four camera-enforced intersections, videotaping was done at four other intersections in Arlington — two on the same corridors where cameras were located and two elsewhere — to see if there was any spillover effect from the cameras. Four control intersections in neighboring Fairfax County, which does not have a camera program, also were observed.

One year after the start of ticketing, the odds of a red light running violation at the camera locations went down. Violations occurring at least 0.5 seconds after the light turned red were 39 percent less likely than would have been expected without cameras. Violations occurring at least 1 second after were 48 percent less likely, and the odds of a violation occurring at least 1.5 seconds into the red phase fell 86 percent.

Although this is a small sample size in one town in a few specific intersections, the findings are encouraging. I am still skeptical that red light cameras actually make intersections safer. I would like to see a few more studies outside of Arlington and maybe by an organization other than the IIHS before we can determine that red light cameras are a deterrent and do reduce auto accidents.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or a Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, at 312-588-3384 for a free legal consultation.

2014 Chicago Auto Show Premiers New Safety Features

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The auto show that
travels around the country every, including at Chicago’s McCormick Place,
always has a flavor of new vehicle safety features. As Medill Reports noted
in a recent article, 2014 was no different. The 2014 Hyundai Genesis featured a new
automatic emergency braking system. The front camera and the front radar
combine to alert you to a possible crash and will signal the breaks to go off
for you. 

“It’s
ultimately all about safety features this year,” said Jim Vurpillat, director
of Emerging Markets at Cadillac. “If you can have all that radar around you to
protect you, it avoids accidents. All of these technologies have been rolling
out to enhance your driving capabilities.” At the Chicago Auto Show
Cadillac showed off the newest radar and camera safety features added to all of
its 2014 and 2015 models, such as advanced breaking, and front and rear
obstacle protection.  One of Cadillac’s most highly-touted features is a
seat buzzer that alerts the driver if the car begins to drift out of a lane.


The technology is similar to Buick’s, which also
alerts a driver via seat vibration. The alert is activated along with the turn
signal. If a vehicle is coming from the right, the right side of the driver’s
seat will buzz or from the left if a vehicle approaches from the left side. The
entire seat will vibrate if there are two vehicles approaching on both sides.

It
always amazes me the type of new technology car makers are able to implement
every year. It will be interesting to see in the years to come, when these
safety systems become more prevalent, whether the number of car accidents
actually decreases.

If
you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, at
312-588-3384 for a free legal consultation. 

Does ADHD Increase The Chance Of Car Accidents

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As we all know there are multiple
causes for auto accidents. Causes can range from texting and driving to
drinking and driving. Another cause is simply not paying attention while on the
road. According to psychcentral.com, a major cause for drivers not focusing on
the road is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). The website believes that
medication that treats this condition will help adults to pay attention to the
road and help prevent car accidents. 

 The site a Swedish study discovered that up to half of the
traffic accidents involving men with ADHD could be avoided if the men were
taking medication for their condition.  Investigators studied 17,000
individuals with ADHD over a period of four years (2006-2009) using various
population health’ registers.

They then
analyzed the risk of traffic accidents for individuals diagnosed with ADHD
and how ADHD medication influences this risk. 

“Even
though many people with ADHD are doing well, our results indicate that the
disorder may have very serious consequences,” said Henrik Larsson, Ph.D.,
associate professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and
Biostatistics.

The study
also demonstrates in several different ways that the risk of traffic accidents in adult men with ADHD significantly reduces if their condition is
treated with medication.

In the
study, researchers discovered the incidence of traffic accidents was lower
among men with ADHD who received medication than among men with ADHD who did
not.

This is an
interesting study, which raises multiple questions. Why do drivers feel the
need to pick up their phones while driving? Also, is the lack of medication
causing drivers to lose focus on what is in front of them? I think the answer
to the second question is yes. The first question is less clear. Not every
driver that uses their phone while driving has ADHD, but is constant phone use
making the condition worse, or worse, causing ADHD drivers to pick up their
phone more often. I don’t think there is an easy answer but there would
definitely need to be more research done. I do think it is clear that if you
have been diagnosed with ADHD and you plan on driving, then please take your
medication. You could help save your own life and the lives of others.

If you or
someone you love has been seriously injured in a Chicago car accident or
Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron Bryant,
for a free legal consultation at 312-588-3384.

Choosing The Proper Car Seat For Your Child

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As many parents know,
choosing a car seat is not always the easiest decision. There a myriad of
choices, specifically for the different ages and sizes of their children. The
most important thing going through parent’s minds is which one will provide the
best protection in case of a car accident. Thanks to healthychildren.org and
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a detailed chart provides the
specific type of car seat need for the age your child. Below is a breakdown of
the type of car seat parents should choose in determining how to best protect
their children. The list not only provides the type of car seat, but also
indicates which direction it should face.

 

Infants/toddlers

Rear-facing
only seats and rear-facing convertible seats

All
infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Seat until
they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height
allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer.

 

Toddler/preschoolers

 

 Convertible
seats and forward-facing seats with harness

 

Any
child 2 years or older who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height
limit for their car seat, should use a Forward-Facing
Car Seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest
weight or height allowed their car seat’s manufacturer. This also applies to
any child younger than 2 years who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or
height limit of their seat.

School-aged children

 

Booster
seats

All
children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their
car seat should use a Belt-Positioning Booster Seat until the
vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9
inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

School-aged children

 

Booster
seats

All
children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their
car seat should use a Belt-Positioning Booster Seat until the
vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9
inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

 

If you or someone you
love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then
call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-588-3384. 

2013 Saw A Slight Increase In Illinois Traffic Fatalities

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The Chicago
Tribune reported this month that there was a slight increase in
traffic fatalities in 2013. There were 973 crash fatalities in 2013 compared with 956 fatalities in 2012, a nearly 2 percent
increase.  Despite the slight uptick, the report points out that this was
the fifth year in a row where car accident deaths were below 1,000. This is a dramatic
change from previous decades regularly saw traffic deaths well over a
thousand.  

The
Illinois department of transportation attributes this recent level of traffic fatalities to the strict enforcement of traffic laws like the seat belt
law. IDOT spokeswoman Paris Ervin said the department credits the
historically low fatalities in recent years to “increased seat belt usage
as a result of Illinois’ primary belt law, education and enforcement,” and
to safety improvements to the roads. But the department is not satisfied,
she said. “Our goal is to drive zero fatalities to a reality in
Illinois and get everyone to their destination safely,” she said.  

The
uptick in traffic deaths in Illinois comes as the number of traffic fatalities
in the U.S. is expected to be lower in 2013 than it was in 2012. In Wisconsin, for example, officials expect that traffic deaths in
2013 — totaling 519 in late December — were far below the state’s five-year
average of 571.

As I have written about
in the past, there are two new laws that went into effect in 2014 that could
the number of traffic accidents in Illinois. First, is the total ban of hand
held cell phone use throughout the state. The second is the speed limit
increase on certain interstates to 70 mph. It will be interesting to see which
direction the number of car crashes and traffic fatalities ebbs or flows in the
next year with these new laws in effect.

If you or someone you
love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or a Chicago truck accident, then
call Chicago personal injury attorney Aaron Bryant for a free legalconsultation at 312-588-3384. 

Are Variable Speed Limits The Key To Unlocking Traffic Gridlock In Chicago?

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The Chicago Tribune had
an interesting article about the future of driving in congested areas like the
Chicagoland region. The article touched on the possibility of V2V technology
that would allow drivers to communicate with each other via Wife and also
self-driving cars. The most promising trend, to me, was a type of technology
that allows speed limits to vary in congested areas called Active Traffic
Management of “ATM.” This technology is already being used in St.
Louis, Minneapolis, Ann Arbor and parts of Nevada, California and Florida.

ATM, Through the use of road sensors, the limits can be adjusted to
accommodate traffic, with the changes or other road-related information posted
on electronic signs above specific lanes. For example, one lane’s
electronic sign may show a speed limit of 60, another 55, and another may indicate
that drivers need to merge, depending on what traffic sensors show is ahead.
The system also can close individual lanes and space traffic on ramps.

“We’ve seen really great
response from drivers getting out of the lanes beforehand,” said Maan
Sidhu, freeway operations engineer for the Washington State Department of
Transportation, which started an ATM program in 2010 along Interstate 5 and has
expanded it to Interstate 90 and Washington Highway 520 in and around Seattle.
“We don’t have that stacking up of vehicles.”  Sidhu also said
the department has recorded “a general reduction in the number of
(vehicle) collisions” on those roads but “no really great
impact” on travel times on Seattle-area highways, which are
notorious for long traffic jams.

It will be interesting to see if
this is something that will be developed in Illinois. As I have written about
multiple times in the past, Chicago has some of the most congested traffic
areas in the United States. More importantly, would this type of technology
help reduce the number of traffic accidents in our area? I will be following
this closely to see if Illinois looks at this further and ultimately implements
ATM into some of the more congested areas.

If you or someone you love has been
injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney Aaron Bryant for a free legal consultation at
312-588-3384.

A Review Of Illinois Traffic Laws For 2014

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I have posted several articles over
the past year of new laws signed by Governor Quinn that went into effect on
January 1, 2014. Below is a review of the main laws that took effect this week.

Public Act
98-0511 amended the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/11-601, it changes the
existing legal speed limit from 65 mph to 70 mph on all rural interstates. The
Act also allows eight counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, McHenry, Lake,
Madison and St. Clair) with heavily congested highways to opt out and maintain
the current 55 mph speed limit.

Illinois
also strengthened speed laws on all streets, highways, and roads throughout
Illinois. Anyone speeding 26 mph over the posted limit will now be charged with
a Class B misdemeanor and speeding 35 mph or more over the posted limit will be
charged with a Class A misdemeanor. Also, keep in mind that supervision is no
longer available for drivers who are caught speeding 31 mph over the posted
speed limit. Supervision is a type of court probation that allows defendants to
plead guilty and pay a fine. The charge is removed from the defendant’s record
if they do not receive any other tickets or arrests during the time period set
by the court (typically between 3 months to a year). If supervision is
completed successfully then there are no points added to the driver’s record
and the driver’s insurance rates are not affected. 

Public Act
98-0506 bans the use of hand-held cell phone devices behind the wheel.
Bluetooth headsets, earpieces, and voice activated commands are permitted. The
only exemptions from this law apply to law enforcement officers or
first responders; drivers reporting emergencies and drivers using electronic
devices while parked on the shoulder of a roadway. Those who violate this
Section shall be fined a maximum of $75 for a first offense, $100 for a second
offense, $125 for a third offense, and $150 for a fourth or subsequent offense.

Penalties for
distracted drivers who injure others or cause fatal crashes by the use of a
cell phone would face a Class A misdemeanor, which could result in fines up to
$2,500 and less than a year of jail time. Drivers involved in fatal accidents
could be charged with a Class 4 felony, which carries fines up to $25,000 and
up to three years of jail time.

It’s 2014,
so watch how fast you are driving (or you could be charged with a misdemeanor)
and remember to stay hands free when talking on the phone while driving.

If you or
someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney Aaron Bryant for a freelegal consultation at 312-588-3384. 

IDOT Releases Map Of 70 MPH Speed Limits

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As reported by the Chicago
Tribune, the Illinois Department of Transportation has released a map
of the interstates that will have a 70 mph speed limit starting on January 1,
2014. 1,900 of the state’s nearly 2,170
miles of interstate will be able to travel at 70 mph instead of the
existing speed limits, generally 65.  But only about 30 percent of the
Illinois Tollway’s 286-mile network will get the higher speed limit, according
to a map released by IDOT. And in the Chicago area, the 70-mph limit will be
posted only on five fairly short stretches of interstate. Those are sections of
I-80 and I-55 in Will County, a stretch of I-57 in far southern Cook County and
all of Will County, a portion of the I-88 toll road in far western Kane County
and part of the I-94 tollway in northern Lake County.

The sponsor of the bill,
Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, is not pleased
at all with the lack of 70 mph speed limits around the Chicago area. Orberweis
told the Tribune, “It’s just clear that they (IDOT) are
disregarding the will of the people.” 

In a
statement, IDOT said the new speeds will be placed on interstate stretches
“where deemed reasonable and  safe.” Department spokesman
Paris Ervin said the agency conducted traffic engineering studies of all
locations with limits below the existing 65-mph maximum and “other
locations deemed necessary.”

I think
this change in speed limits makes sense for most of the interstates around
Illinois. As I have written about in the past, drivers rarely follow the 65 mph
speed limit for the most part anyway. The question that remains is whether this
will make the interstates more dangerous and more prone to deadly car accidents. I will be following closely to see if the amount of auto accidents
in these areas increases and/or the number of fatal car crashes increases now
that the speed limit is higher.

If you or someone you
love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then
call Chicago personal injury attorney for a free legal consultation at
312-588-3384. 

 


IDOT’s Winter Weather Driving Tips

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Winter weather has hit hard and
early this year in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Though it’s very important
to have your guard up when driving, it is especially important when there is
ice and snow on the roads. The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”)
posted some important tips on their website for both how to handle the road and
also a survival  kit in case you happened to become stranded. Read the
below tips so that you will be ready this winter to avoid car accidents and
dangerous situtations:

Survival Kit:

·  Ice scraper,
snow brush, rags and paper towels.

·  Jumper
cables, basic tool kit, antifreeze, no-freeze windshield washer fluid and extra
drive belt(s).

·  Shovel,
traction mats or old rugs, tire chains, salt, cat box litter or sand.

·  Blankets and
extra clothing including hats, socks, waterproof boots, coats and gloves.

·  Non-perishable,
high-calorie food. 

·  Candles,
waterproof matches and a metal container (coffee can) in which to melt snow
into water.

·  Flashlight
with extra batteries, flares or roadway reflectors.

·  A basic
first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

·  A cellular
telephone with a backup power source might be the single most important safety
item available. A citizen’s band radio is a good alternative.

Driving tips: 

·  Buckle those
seat belts! (It’s the law)

·  Be prepared
to turn back or seek refuge if conditions become threatening.

·  In RAIN,
drive with your headlights on dim. 

·  In FOG,
drive with your headlights on dim, or use fog lights.

·  If the fog
is too dense, pull off the roadway and stop. Do not drive at less than 10 miles
per hour.

·  In RAIN,
FOG, SNOW or SLEET, do not overdrive your headlights.

·  Stay within
the limits of your vision.

·  Keep your
windows clear of snow and ice. Do not start until your windshield is defrosted.

·  Drive slower
and increase your following distance. Your speed should be adjusted for the
conditions and match the flow of traffic.

·  Roadway
conditions may vary depending on the sun, shade or roadway surface. Watch for
slick spots especially under bridges, on overpasses and in shaded spots. Be
prepared to react physically and mentally. 

·  If the
pavement is snow or ice covered, start slowly and brake gently. Beginbraking
early when you come to an intersection.

·  If you start
to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes. Steer into the direction of the
skid until you feel you have regained traction then straighten your vehicle.

·  When you
approach a snow plow from behind, pass with care and only when you can see
the road ahead of the plow. You should not try to pass in blowing snow. There
may be a vehicle in that cloud of snow! Allow more distance between you and the
plow, they may be spreading salt.

·  Be alert
when you approach a cloud of snow which covers the road, especially on passing
lanes of interstates or freeways. Slow down and approach with caution. A snow
plow may be at work clearing the lane or preparing to turn around.

·  Be careful
after a minor rear end accident. If you are bumped from behind and you do not
feel comfortable exiting your vehicle, motion the other driver and drive to the
nearest police station, 24-hour store, service station, hospital or fire
station.

If you or someone you
love has been involved in a serious Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer Aaron Bryant for a free legal consultation at 312-588-3384.