illinois department of transportation

Illinois budget: Drivers advised to use caution as construction resumes

July 7, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Crews and workers are expected back today

After more than two years, Illinois lawmakers ended the longest state budget impasse in modern history, overriding Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto attempt of budget-related legislation. The money and the votes didn’t come easy, and there will be residual effects.

We’re not talking about the $5 billion tax increase. In the short-term, we’re talking about state roads. As we noted last month, roughly 900 statewide construction and transportation projects worth $3.3 billion had been put on hold while the budget was in limbo. On July 1 the Illinois Department of Transportation warned that the shutdown would impact “highway, rail, transit, and aeronautics projects.” On July 4, as tense negotiations inched forward at a strained pace, the department updated its website to say that construction would stay suspended.

Yesterday, the IDOT updated its site yet again to announce that construction will resume today now that a budget is in place. But it also warned the public to be especially cautious traveling in or around work zones, as projects rev up, traffic slows, and nearly 22,000 workers affected by the stoppage are put back to work.

That means: Keeping an eye out for workers, construction crews and vehicles, and anyone in orange vests. The delay of a state budget forced state-funded crews and contractors to abandon all construction sites, no matter the condition. Highways that were once saturated with people putting in long hours went dark for a week, and it’s likely that motorists grew accustomed to that. Now that workers are back, drivers should expect slower speed zones and more congestion as construction gets back on track.

Also be aware of: Construction zones that are technically active, but have yet to see crews on site. The state budget doesn’t necessarily mean that all contractors are obligated or have sorted through the logistics of scheduling or assignments. Some sites may take priority over others, leaving voids in certain areas. Active construction or not, drivers are required to obey all traffic signs and speeds while traveling through work zones and to stay alert.

Construction areas and interstates to know: As noted by the IDOT in recent weeks for pothole patching utility work, bridge repair work, and other closures: I-55, I-72, I-80, I-57, I-280, which have seen construction at various points of the interstate; check the IDOT’s Twitter for real-time updates.

Traffic fatalities on the rise in Illinois

August 17, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The Associated Press is reporting that Illinois traffic deaths are expected to top 1,000 this year for the first time since 2008, a consequence of more miles being driven, higher speeds being reported along rural highways, and an increase in younger drivers on the road.

More than 620 traffic fatalities have already occurred as of August 12, according to the State-Journal Register, a jump of 50 from the same time last year. It’s a trend that’s expected to continue through the end of the year.

The number of traffic deaths in 2015 (998) provides an ominous glimpse into the anticipated numbers of 2016 and it comes at a time when safety experts are beginning to look at several factors related to the rise.

Authorities say that most traffic-related fatalities have occurred along rural interstates where speed is the predominant factor (Illinois raised the speed limit on rural highways from 65 mph to 70 mph in 2014), but officials also say that distractions are becoming more frequent, including the use of cell phones and other handheld devices. That applies to pedestrians, as well.

“Most of our problems come down to a couple of things,” said Randy Blankenhorn, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, who spoke with the AP about this year’s expected rise in fatalities. “Avoid disruptions, whether it’s being on your cellphone or texting while you’re walking on busy streets. We see a lot of distractions, and speeding is always going to be an issue.”

Advocates Aim for Stricter Requirements for Commercial Drivers

January 29, 2015 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

For years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has faced a bevy of criticism for failing to institute stricter training requirements for operators of large commercial trucks. That criticism has turned into action, according to the New York Times, which reports that safety advocates and at least one labor union has filed suit in federal court over FMCSA’s lack of progress. It seems it was only a matter of time.

In a span of ten years, says the Times, Congress has twice ordered the FMCSA make changes to its training measures, only to see the FMCSA bypass the requisite deadlines. The federal organization has made incremental improvements over the last decade, but not enough to satisfy a growing contingent of safety groups and those who say the FMCSA’s so-called improvements are akin to a running joke. Currently the FMCSA requires a minimum of ten hours in the classroom and a driving test before allowing drivers with big rigs onto the road, only after the “relatively simple process” of filing for a commercial license.

That doesn’t satisfy people like Henry Jansy, general counsel at Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, who took a harsh line with the FMCSA, saying “There’s just no excuse anymore. This should be basic stuff. People are dying because of the lack of training out there.”

Making matters worse for the FMCSA is the rising number of fatalities related to large commercial trucks. The Times points out that traffic related fatalities have reached a new low, however accidents involving large trucks have steadily increased; fatalities are up by four percent and serious injuries up by 18 percent since 2012. Based on data from the Transportation Department, an additional 200,000 accidents with large trucks caused damage but no injuries.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reports that Illinois tractor-trailer accidents account for nearly 11% of traffic deaths over the last five years. In 2005, Illinois eighteen-wheeler accidents caused a little more than 200 of the nearly 2000 total traffic fatalities.

Some safety points to note from the IDOT:

In Illinois, fatal crashes between trucks and other vehicles most often occur:

On Tuesday through Friday, between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., when the weather is clear and the road is dry
Due to speed or improper lane use
When the truck driver is between 28-43 years old and the driver of the other vehicle is between 20-30 years old
When the driver (of the truck OR the other vehicle) has fallen asleep or has been drinking

Avoid these four blind spots when driving near or around a large vehicle:

Don’t return to the driving lane until you can see the entire front of the truck in your rearview mirror
If you can’t see one of the truck drivers’ side mirrors, he or she can’t see you either
If you can’t see the truck driver in one of your side mirrors, he or she can’t see you
Don’t enter the area between the curb or shoulder and the truck if the truck is signaling a turn

Additional safety points:

Some other safety information to be aware of when you encounter larger vehicles on the road include things like weight difference, the risk of underride and override, stopping distance, and “splash and spray.”

Reviewing and remembering these basic principles can help keep you safe on the road, and prevent the unexpected.