Tag Archives: www.blgchicago.com

Chicago City Council Considering 25 MPH Speed Limit

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Multiple news outlets, including NBC 5 and WTTW, reported last week that Chicago’s City Council is discussing lowering certain city street speed limit’s from 30 MPH down to 25 MPH.

The proposal was supposed to go to a vote last week, but the bill’s sponsor, Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward), withdrew the planned vote at the last minute. It is not clear why the vote was withdrawn, but I think it is safe to assume he did not have the enough support from his fellow Aldermen. The push to lower speed limits comes from concern about a recent surge in Chicago pedestrian fatalities in the past few years. La Spata said the push to reduce the speed limit on most city roads was an effort to make the city’s roadways safer after a surge of deaths in recent years.

Reducing a car’s speed by just a few miles per hour significantly increases the chance of surviving a crash and reduces serious injuries, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

The City Council voted 49-1 to create a working group to devlope ways Chicago can change its traffic ticketing system so Black, Latino and low-income residents are no longer disproportionately hit with fines. La Spata said the working group would address concerns that reducing the city’s speed limit would give city officials a way to ease Chicago’s financial crunch by hitting drivers who refuse to slow down with fines and fees.

It will be interesting to see if the City Council decides to revisit this proposal sometime later this year. With more and more workers returning to work in the office downtown since the pandemic, we are seeing much more foot traffic around Chicago, especially in the downtown loop.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call for a free legal consulation with the Bryant Law Group at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

New Illinois Driver And Traffic Laws For 2025

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It’s a new year and there are dozens of new laws that take effect in Illinois. Most of the new laws that I reviewed have to do with health insurance and insurance coverage. There were only three (3) new traffic and/or driver laws in Illinois that take effect in 2025. I have outlined these new laws below:

HB 4592 – Allows the Secretary of State to issue mobile ID cards and driver’s licenses.

SB 0275 – The Secretary of State’s Office will be required to offer applicants the option to be issued an 8-year driver’s license within the next two years.

HB 5408 – Drivers will be prohibited from stopping or parking vehicles on shoulders of highways within a half-mile radius of the eastern entrance to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.

Nothing too dramatic was passed last year by the Illinois legislature that will affect Illinois drivers in 2025, but it is always good to know any new laws that have been enacted.

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

Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway Express Lanes Reopened

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The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) announced that the express lanes on the 1-90/94 expressway have officially repopened for the first time since their closing for consutruction in March 2024.

Their closure was part of a three (3) rennovation project run by IDOT. Since the express lanes closure, commute times in and out of the loop and out to O’Hare airport have increased dramatically. So much so, that a recent traffic study put Chicago tied for first in the U.S. for worst traffic congestion.

The express lanes (which referese directions depending on time of day and congestion) were originally supposed to open in December. IDOT pushed their openning until today blaming continued testing on the Reversible Lane Access Control System, which controls access to the lanes depending on the flow of rush hour traffic. That system includes more than 120 gates, camera equipment, fiber optic cables and a variety of signage, IDOT said.

We are all hoping that the re-opening of the express lanes will help ease traffic congestion in and out of the city. Though, more closures on the Kennedy are coming as IDOT will be moving to the third phase of the contruction project. There will be periodic lane closures on parts of the outbound Kennedy Expressway from Ohio Street to the Edens junction. Road contruction workers are expected to rehabilitate lanes and refurbish a number of bridges along the route.

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

Chicago Tied For Worst Traffic In U.S. In 2024

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The annual Global Traffic Scorecard was released yesterday by INIX and it Chicago did not look good. According to the study’s findings, Chicago was tied with New York as the worst in the U.S. for traffic congestion and was only behind Hong Kong globally.

INRIX, a transportation data and analytics firm, showed that Chicago and New York commuters lost an average of 102 hours sitting in traffic last year. Los Angeles ranked third with 88 hours lost.

The average speed of a downtown Chicago commute was approximately 14 mph, tied for the third-slowest in the country. INRIX calculated that the slow commute for drivers in Chicago costs on average about $1,826 per year. The analysis attributed the increases to a return to in-person work, and large nighttime trip increases on the weekends as cities have tried to entice employees and visitors back to enjoy their downtown life.

I agree with INIX’s reasoning but another factor, at least for those who drive downtown on the I-90/94 Kennedy expressway, is the ongoing construction. The express lanes going north and south have been out of commission for most of the year and as I wrote last month, they will not be open until the end of January. Hopefully, once the Kennedy construction is completed and the express lanes are open, then commute times will ease up a bit.

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

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.

GM Recalls Close To 500,000 Trucks

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) announed this week that General Motors is recalling 461,000 trucks and SUVs based on a transmission issue. The vehicles recalled include the 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.

The specific auto defect involves a transmission control valve on the impacted vehicles may fail causing the rear wheels to lock up, the NHTSA said, which would increase the risk of a crash.

GM dealers will install a new transmission control module software free of charge and GM will provide a special coverage program for repairing transmissions identified as containing a defective control valve.

If you own one of these types of vehicles, please contact your dealer as soon as possible to avoid any further risks.

Should you or a loved become injured from a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois personal injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC. for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Chicago To Launch Camera Technology To Promote Traffic Safety

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Cities Today reported recently that Chicago will be launching a traffic safety program called Smart Streets Pilot, which will focus on enforcing parking violations in bus and bike lanes.

Cameras will be placed on buses and and city vehicles looking to enforce traffic lane violations. An initial 30-day warning will precede a ticket, but after this initial timeframe drivers will be fined for repeated violations. It is unclear what the fine amount will be after receiving the initial warning.

The two-year pilot program will operate in downtown Chicago with eight city enforcement vehicles equipped with cameras to monitor the streets, while the Chicago Transit Authority (“CTA”) will install cameras on up to six buses by 2025. According to the city’s Transport Commissioner Tom Carney: “By keeping bus and bike lanes clear of illegal parking, we can improve safety and reduce delays for commuters.”

The pilot’s results will be reported to the city council, assessing the impact on traffic flow, safety, and transit operations.

This is welcome news to Chicago bicyclists and pedestrians who commute downtown. Too often drivers park their vehicles blocking dedicated bike and bus lanes. This is incredibly dangerous for bicyclists, especially when it happens in densly populated areas like the Chicago loop. Let’s hope this pilot program motivates drivers to park their vehicles properly and eventually make Chicago’s streets safer.

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