Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Some area law enforcement officers are skeptical in their reaction to a proposal to ban all cell phones in vehicles.

Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board, a federal safety board, called for the first-ever nationwide ban on driver use cell phones and other portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

"More than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving."

The recommendation has no legal authority, and it would be up to each state to decide whether to comply with the request, or to approve some other sort of restriction.

As of Jan. 1, 2010, it has been illegal for drivers in Illinois to send or receive text messages, or to use cell phones in school or construction zones unless using a hands-free device.

Princeton Police Chief Tom Root said he has mixed feelings about the proposal.

Everyone wants to cut down on accidents, but this would be a hard law to enforce, particularly along the highways and interstates where nobody is around.

"Who doesn't have a cell phone?" Root asked.

Root said it is a education issue, and drivers need to take seriously the responsibility of what they're doing.

Root distinguished between texting and talking on a cell phone. He said texting was a different issue because it often takes two hands and long periods of time when drivers have their eyes off the road.

"With a cell phone, you have one hand on the wheel, and, hopefully, your eyes on the road," he said.

Root said he was not aware of any local accidents because of cell phone distraction.

For Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson, the cell phone ban is just another impractical item on the list of things the NTSB has recommended during the years.

"Ten years ago the NTSB announced it wanted no traffic deaths on American highways," Thompson said.

Thompson said society lives by its cell phones at this point in time. He acknowledges some drivers have problems with cell phones, but he doesn't want to see legislation try to solve the problem.

Continue reading " Princeton Illinois: Banning cell phones while driving " »

Utica officials were not surprised at the results of a blind survey the Illinois Department of Transportation conducted in November about whether the state should tear down the existing Route 178 Illinois River bridge before constructing a new span.

Overwhelmingly, out of the 160 written comments received, 108 local residents said they were in favor of building a new bridge next to the current one rather than tearing the aging one down first, thus cutting off traffic access to Starved Rock State Park and other points south of the river.

The remaining comments offered alternative suggestions not now endorsed by IDOT or merely questioned if the state had a plan for access for emergency services to the rural area.

Community concerns included:
Economic and business impact.
Access to recreational areas, hotels, churches and other attractions.
Impact to school routes and other pubic services.
Adverse travel and related environmental impact due to potential detours.
Increased traffic and increased accidents along nearby Route 71.
Estimates range beyond $20 million for the replacement project. IDOT officials have said no funding or starting date has been finalized, but environmental surveys have been initiated and engineering studies are under way to ensure the project's compliance with impact requirements.

On Nov. 29, the La Salle County Board voted unanimously to ask IDOT to keep the existing Route 178 bridge open over the Illinois River during the entire construction phase.

County Board Chairman Jerry Hicks, D-Marseilles, told The Times the resolution supporting keeping traffic flowing at the Utica point was a "no-brainer" and board members felt little need even to discuss the action.

The resolution noted a bridge closure would not only have "a major impact" on the county's share of sales tax and tourism revenue, but also affect emergency services. The resolution said keeping a bridge in operation is necessary "to facilitate snow removal and highway maintenance operations south of the Illinois River