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Motor Vehicle Accidents 
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 285,477 motor vehicle crashes and 991 fatalities in the state during 2013. Aggressive driving behaviors that lead to road rage have become a major contributor to the rise in collisions.
According to Illinois crash data, there were 142 traffic fatalities involving large trucks in 2013. This number has risen steeply since 2009. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that jackknifing is involved in 10 percent of all fatal truck crashes.
Voice-activated systems in vehicles are very popular. These systems allow Illinois drivers to control the features of their vehicles while keeping both hands on the wheel. A recent cognitive study shows that voice-activated technology is not always safe to operate while driving.
Commercial truck weights are regulated by federal and state limits. Illinois officials set the state’s weight limits on the loads trucks can haul within the borders based on risk reduction. Overweight trucks compromise traffic safety and road conditions and may be a contributing factor in injury or fatality crashes.
Illinois currently has a speed camera law that does not allow municipalities with fewer than 1 million residents to install cameras. According to BND, Chicago is the only city in the state that can use them under this legislation. State Rep. Jay Hoffman recently filed a bill that seeks to expand the law and give local governments the option to install speed cameras in their districts.
Distracted driving has always been a concern on the Illinois roadways and across the U.S. According to distraction.gov, the number of motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving has increased in recent years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that approximately 387,000 injury accidents and more than 3,000 traffic fatalities in 2011 were directly related to distracted driving.
Truckers drive the largest, most dangerous vehicles that can occupy the nation’s roads. When they fail to get the adequate sleep that they need to stay alert, devastating accidents can occur. An Illinois truck accident lawyer may see many cases each year that show just how life-altering these truck accidents can be. Despite knowing what can happen if they allow themselves to become drowsy, many truckers fail to get adequate rest.
Illinois drivers are faced with many hazards as they travel the state’s roadways. A car accident lawyer in Illinois understands that these hazards are only going to increase as technology improves. Recent developments in technology have created additional ways for motorists to become distracted, such as cell phones, GPS navigation systems and advanced radio systems.
Drunk drivers have been causing devastating accidents since the invention of the motor vehicle. In 1990, over half of all traffic fatalities were caused or contributed to by alcohol. While that rate has significantly decreased over the years, a third of all traffic deaths are still caused by those who choose to drink and drive.
By Neal B. Strom of Strom & Associates, Ltd. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, January 28, 2014.
January 28, 2014 Around 9:45 p.m. last night, Vincent Petrella stopped on Interstate 88 to assist a semi-truck driver on the road. An Illinois State trooper also stopped to help.