Illinois to Increase Traffic Law Enforcement in 2012
The Illinois State Police recently announced that they will ramp up traffic enforcement in 2012. Specifically, they will focus on the most common traffic law violations that affect the safety of Illinois’s public roadways: failing to wear a seatbelt, driving while intoxicated speeding, and distracted driving. If these enforcement actions fail to prevent a truck accident, accident victims should contact a Missouri truck accident attorney.
Failure to wear a safety belt is a dangerous behavior that the State of Illinois plans to curb. A new Illinois law requires both drivers and passengers of motor vehicles to wear a seat belt. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2012. 26 other states and the District of Columbia also require all vehicle occupants to wear a seat belt. The Illinois version of the law exempts taxicab passengers, emergency vehicle occupants, and people with medical exemptions.
Driving while intoxicated greatly increases the risk of a Missouri truck accident. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-related traffic crashes will involve one in three Americans. A 2002 study found that there are so many DUI accidents, one person is injured by an alcohol-related accident every minute.
Distracted driving is a major cause of car accidents. Drivers are increasingly using mobile devices while driving. Texting, using GPS devices, talking on the phone, and other activities take a driver’s limited amount of attention off the road. A quick browse of the statistics at distraction.gov, the official U.S. Government website about distracted driving, reveals the negative impact distracted driving has on public safety. One in five traffic crashes resulting in personal injury involve reports of distracted driving.
Speeding occurs when a driver operates a motor vehicle above the posted speed limit or too fast for the conditions. Speeding is a major cause of single vehicle accidents. Drivers are more likely to lose control of their vehicle while speeding. The loss of control is a particularly danger on curvy roadways and roadways slick with precipitation.
