Governor Quinn Announces $21 Million Grant For Safe Routes To Schools

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Governor Quinn announced last month through the Illinois Department of Transportation that will be $21.7 million will be granted to schools throughout the state to help make routes to school safer for children.  Governor Quinn stated in his press release that the goal of the grant was to “Encourage children to walk and bike to school not only makes school routes safer, but also improves the quality of life for Illinois residents by easing traffic congestion and reducing emissions.” 

The 229 funded projects support sidewalk repair and equipment for police and crossing guards. The funding includes $1.5 million to assist communities with safety training, educational materials, and public service announcements encouraging safe walking and biking to school. This will help ensure a consistent statewide program and favorable outcomes from the Safe Routes to Schools projects. Click here to learn more about the plans to make children’s path to school.
These are encouraging steps being made by the state of Illinois to make roads safer for children and all pedestrians.  Vehicle-pedestrian accidents are a parents worst nightmare and hopefully this will help them sleep better at night and at the same time promote children walking and biking to school.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a Chicago car accident or Chicago vehicle-pedestrian accident then call Chicago car accident attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com. 

Governor Quinn Signs Chicago Speeder Cameras Into Law

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I wrote last fall about a
controversial law that the Illinois legislature passed, which would allow the
city of Chicago to install speeder cameras around the city. Mayor Emanuel was
heavily endorsing the law and was touting it as a measure that would help protect
children. The cameras are apparently going to be mainly positioned around
schools and parks. Governor Quinn finally signed the measure into law last
week. 

These cameras have had plenty of
skepticism from the the public, media and other lawmakers. State Representative
Ann Williams, who represents part of the North side of Chicago, is one
politician who opposed the new law. She told the Chicago Tribune about
her concerns: “I feel
that having cameras on every corner really changes the character of a
neighborhood,” Williams said. “Imagine walking through your
neighborhood on a beautiful day, looking up, and there’s a camera pointed at
you. I just don’t know if I want that feeling on every corner in every
neighborhood.”

Other people has
argued that these cameras were being installed merely to raise revenue for the
city. Mayor Emanuel has disagreed with this theory from the beginning and has
stated time and again that the purpose for these cameras is to protect
children. Governor Quinn echoed this sentiment:  “I think that you’ve got to understand that if you save even one
life, you are saving the whole world,” Quinn said during an appearance at
a high school on the Far South Side. “I mean, what do you say to a parent
that’s been there from the day their son or daughter was born and they’re
killed by a speeding motorist next to their school or their park?

“I think our job
is to rise to the occasion and do what’s necessary to protect our kids.”

I think time will have
to tell whether these cameras were useful. We will have to look at the
statistics after a year or two to see if the amount of vehicle-pedestrianaccidents have decreased in Chicago. It will also be important if the amount of
vehicle-pedestrian accidents decrease in the specific areas where the cameras
are placed.

If you or someone you
love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago vehicle-pedestrianaccident, 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. 

NHTSA To Require Rear-View Cameras On All Vehicles

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It is every drivers worst nightmare
– – backing their vehicle up and unexpectedly striking the person behind you.
This happens more than you would think as Business Week recently
reported that every year 292 people die and 18,000 are injured by back overaccidents. Based on this epidemic, former President Bush signed into law the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act in
2008. The law was named for a two-year-old boy who was killed in 2002 when an
SUV driven by his father backed over him. The law gave National Highway
Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) three years to come up with
new rules to “reduce death and injury resulting from backing incidents” by
requiring “additional mirrors, sensors, cameras, or other technology to expand
the driver’s field of view.”

As a result, the
NHTSA is expected to issue a regulation requiring rear-view cameras on all
new automobiles sold in the U.S. starting in 2014. NHTSA says the cameras will
cut the number of deaths by half, to 146 a year. Yet the auto industry is
questioning the prospective rule, calling it an example of overregulation by
the federal government. NHTSA estimates it will cost automakers as much as
$2.7 billion to install the devices on 16 million cars every year, which
works out to about $18.5 million per life saved.

There has been quite a
bit of backlash from the auto industry due to the increased costs that they will bear.  Does
the auto industry have a viable argument?  Were these same auto giants
making the same arguments when the government began requiring seat belts in the
early 1960s or later when they were required to add air bags. I think this is
the cost of doing business and that consumers are due fair protection from the
products placed in the open market. Once could argue that the new regulation is a little
overreaching. This could be true, but I believe – – at a bare minimum – – auto
makers should be required to install rear-view cameras on all SUVs, truck and
vans as the line of sight behind them begins at approximately 20 feet, which
can make it impossible to see a small child directly behind the vehicle.

If you or someone you
love has been involved in a Chicago car accident or a Chicago back overaccident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free consultation at 32-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com style=”font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
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Study Shows Distracted Pedestrians More Like To Be Involved In Accidents

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 The University of
Maryland Medical Center released an interesting study last month which revealed
that pedestrians wearing headphones are more likely to be involved in car accidents and train accidents than pedestrians without
headphones. 

The
research revealed that 116 accident cases from 2004 to 2011 in which
injured pedestrians were documented to be using headphones. Seventy percent of
the 116 accidents resulted in death to the pedestrian. More than two-thirds of
victims were male (68 percent) and under the age of 30 (67 percent). More than
half of the moving vehicles involved in the accidents were trains (55 percent),
and nearly a third (29 percent) of the vehicles reported sounding some type of
warning horn prior to the crash. The increased incidence of accidents over the
years closely corresponds to documented rising popularity of auditory
technologies with headphones.

Dr.
Lichenstein and his colleagues noted two likely phenomena associated with these
injuries and deaths: distraction and sensory deprivation. The distraction
caused by the use of electronic devices has been coined “inattentional
blindness,” in which multiple stimuli divide the brain’s mental resource
allocation. In cases of headphone-wearing pedestrian collisions with vehicles,
the distraction is intensified by sensory deprivation, in which the
pedestrian’s ability to hear a train or car warning signal is masked by the
sounds produced by the portable electronic device and headphones.

Remember
to always be aware of your surrounding if walking around town listening to your ipod as you could be increasing the chances you are struck
by a vehicle. Another option is to lower the volume level enough so that you
can hear and remain aware of the surrounding traffic.

If you
or someone you love has been involved in a Chicago car accident or Chicago pedestrian 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.

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.

•
Banning drivers from using hand-held cellphones.

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

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

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

•
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. 

Winter Weather Is Finally Here

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It took quite a while, but winter weather has finally hit Chicago and most of the Midwest. Six inches of snow hit the ground last week, quickly melted away, and another batch fell yesterday and last night. Driving in the snow and ice can be treacherous and – – if not careful – – can lead to a serious car accident. The Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) website provided a comprehensive checklist for drivers to be aware of when driving through ice and snow. Below is the list of tips.

·  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. Begin braking 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.

Most important, always remember to buckle up, even if you are in the back seat as Illinois now requires all passenger to wear their seat belts.

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 consultation at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com.
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Is Driving With A Cold As Dangerous As Drinking And Driving?

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The UK Telegraph reported
this week that recent studies performed by Cardiff University and the Young
Marmalade insurance company showed that driving with a cold or flu can be just
as hazardous as drinking alcohol and
driving.

A small scale trial was performed
which showed that drivers that had a cold or the flu had much slower reaction times and breaking
became much more frequent. It needs to be pointed out that neither Young Marmalade or
Cardiff University provided any statistics or numbers that resulted from
their study. Also, apparently the slower reaction times were not a result of
cold medicine but rather a lack of sleep, which made sick drivers less
aware. 

The findings back up
work done by Cardiff University Common Cold Unit which showed that those with
colds and flu suffered from poor reaction times and alertness and were a third
more likely to hit the roadside curb.

Halfords Winter
Driving Expert Mark Dolphin said: “We want our customers to stay safe. You
shouldn’t drive if you are not feeling well. The best place to be when you have
flu or a heavy cold is at home, but if you really must go out, get someone else
to take you and avoid driving.

This is an interesting
study that I think has some merit, but I think I would like to see more
concrete statistics and a more widespread study that tests a larger control
group.

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

New Law Requires Illinois Backseat Passengers Wear Seat Belts

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A somewhat controversial traffic law that passed the Illinois legislator over the summer came into effect on January 1, 2012. The new law requires all back seat passengers wear a seat belt. The new law gives police officers the ability to pull a vehicle over if they view the any passenger not wearing their seat belt.

Illinois became the 26th state to require back seat passengers wear their seat belts.  Despite many complaints that this law is overly intrusive, lawmakers believe this will help save lives.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has concluded that using shoulder belts in the back seat reduces the risk of a injuries like neck or back resulting in the need for spine pain treatment during a car crash by 44% in cars and 73% in vans and SUVs. Unbelted passengers also put others in the car in danger during an auto accident and increase the other passengers’ rate of injury or death by 40%.
There have also been studies that a belted passenger in the back seat will prevent that passenger for being forced forward and injuring the front seat passengers.
The initial fine for this law is $25.
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck 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.

Cook County Watchdog Group Finds Hidden Flaws In Trucks

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The Chicago Sun Times reported this week that a Cook County watchdog group, led by Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard, found that the County was has been hiding multiple flaws in trucks so that they will pass inspection. Many of the practices used by the County highway department include: installing new tires on snow truck during inspections and then having them removed; not supplying each truck with a fire extinguisher; and vehicles used for repairing potholes not having an up-to-date vehicle inspection sticker.


Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to the Sun Times that the person overseeing these issues was not living up to his duties and is no longer in the position.  Rupert Graham, the highway superintendent appointed to the job under former board president Todd Stroger, stepped down in August of this year.

It is not clear whether any of the hidden faults in the County’s fleet of trucks caused any vehicle accidents. At least it was not mentioned in the report or in the Sun Times article. It is also not clear as to what steps the County will be taking to make sure all of their vehicles up to code and in safe working condition. My opinion is that Board President Preckwinkle has been accountable on a lot of issues since taking office and that she will start taking the appropriate steps to make sure vehicles are better equipped and pass inspection.

NTSB Recommends Total Ban On Cell Phones In Vehicles

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I wrote last week about the drastic increase of drivers who texted behind the wheel.The National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) administration found these text and drive results among U.S. drivers through various studies.


These findings appeared to have sent a serious jolt throughout the federal government, as the board dedicated to keeping highways and roads safe – – the National Highway Safety Board – – has recommended a complete ban on cell phone use while driving. The only exception would be in case of emergencies.  The government (in my opinion rightfully) believes that texting and driving is an epidemic similar to drinking and driving.  According to the NHTSA there were 3,092 roadway fatalities last year involved distracted drivers. Though they believe the number may actually be higher. Federal officials have taken to calling phone use behind the wheel “the new DUI.”

This type of restriction is going to face serious opposition I believe from both Republicans and Democrats. There will also be strong opposition from each state as they will argue that it is an issue they can legislate themselves.  Personally, I think it will be difficult to justify a complete ban on cell phone use for drivers as so many people rely on their phone for business purposes. Yet it appears that the government studies are correct in asserting that texting and driving is an epidemic similar to drinking and driving. As I mentioned last week, until people recognize the potential consequences of texting and driving (similar to not wearing a seat belt or driving while drunk), then people will continue to type on their phones while driving. How do we change this mentality?  For now it will take time, but just like drinking and driving laws, the local, state and federal governments need to enact stiffer penalties. 

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 consultation at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com