Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

The National Safety Council hosted its first Forum to Keep Teen Drivers Alive recently, as it works to remind parents and teenagers about the dangers of Chicago car accidents as we head into the holidays and the winter driving season.

Our Chicago accident attorneys frequently report about the dangers teens face on the road — the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to report that car accidents are the leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 20.In 2008, a total of 164 motorists were killed in Illinois car accidents involving young drivers.

Participants in the forum included law enforcement, educators and safety advocates from Arlington Heights, Grayslake, Mundelein and Oak Brook. The Safety Council also demonstrated its Alive at 25 safety course, geared toward teen drivers.

“The interest in this first teen driving forum reflects the need for effective teen driver training,” said John Kennedy, group vice president for programs and education at the National Safety Council. “The Alive at 25 course goes beyond the rules of the road by sharing the importance of making good decisions behind the wheel and the consequences poor choices can have on families and friends. Due to the success of this first forum, we look forward to hosting more across the country.”

Nationwide, the government reports that 2,739 drivers ages 15 to 20 were killed in crashes in 2008 and an additional 228,000 were injured. In all, teenagers account for about 1 in 9 drivers killed in accidents.
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The National Transportation Safety Board has updated its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, asking states to focus on a number of core issues. Each of these issues are often focused on by our Chicago accident lawyers, both here and on our sister site, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog.

“State governments are in a unique position to effect the most significant improvement in certain areas of transportation safety,” NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said. “Our Most Wanted List spotlights those states that have made noteworthy progress in better protecting the traveling public – and those that have not.”The government reports that Illinois needs to enact a primary enforcement seat-belt law for back-seat passengers and do a better job of cracking down on hardcore drunk drivers. It also reports that Illinois is one of only three states that lacks a helmet law to reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries resulting from Illinois motorcycle accidents.

Improve Motorcycle Safety

This issue replaced recreational boating safety this year as the government continues to try to reduce the high numbers of serious and fatal motorcycle accidents occurring nationwide. Illinois receives a failing grade as one of only three states with no helmet laws for riders, including minors. Only Iowa and New Hampshire also lack helmet laws of any kind.

Young Drivers Safety/Distracted Driving

As we frequently report, Illinois is a leader in this area. The state’s graduated driver’s license program is one of the nation’s best and restrictions are also in place prohibiting teenagers from using cell phones while driving. The state also has limits on the number of passengers permitted in a young driver’s vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 6,000 drivers ages 15 to 20 were involved in fatal accidents in 2008, making traffic accidents the leading cause of death among teenagers. A total of 164 motorists died in Illinois car accidents involving young drivers.

Improve Child Occupant Protection

Illinois also fairs well when it comes to child occupant protection — requiring booster seats for children under 8. Nearly half of all states (22) still lack such a requirement. Nationwide, 1,347 children under the age of 14 were killed in accidents in 2008. Forty-four children in Illinois were killed in traffic crashes — including 23 under the age of 8.

The government reports about half of the 3,000 children killed in traffic accidents in the last decade were unrestrained.

Primary seat belt laws

Illinois was cited as one of the states that does not have a primary seat-belt-enforcement law for back-seat passengers. Last year, over half of the 23,000 vehicle occupants who died in crashes were not wearing seat belts. Seat-belt use reduces the risk of serious or fatal injuries by about 50 percent.

Nineteen states have no primary enforcement law. Illinois is one of 14 states where the primary enforcement law does not apply to all positions.
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With the holidays rapidly approaching, the Insurance Information Institute has released a number of tips for parents to consider when choosing vehicles appropriate for teenage drivers.

As our Chicago injury lawyers frequently report, teenagers are at the highest risk for being involved in a serious or fatal car accident in Chicago. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 5,864 drivers ages 15 to 20 were involved in fatal crashes in 2008. Illinois car accidents involving young drivers killed 164 motorists.In recent days, two high-profile accidents involving young drivers in Chicago have been reported:

The Chicago Breaking News Center reports that a 17-year-old boy is on life support after being involved in a car accident in DuPage County. Police report the boy was driving a Volkswagen Jetta when he struck a Ford truck backing out of a residential driveway.

In a separate case, WGNTV reports a 17-year-old boy has been charged with reckless homicide after allegedly killing a woman asleep in her bed after driving drunk into the side of her house.

Choosing the right vehicle for your son or daughter is just one more way to help keep them safe on the road.

-Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving: Sports cars and other high-performance vehicles are often not appropriate. Teen drivers often lack experience and maturity. Such vehicles may encourage speeding. Selecting a vehicle with a modest image and reputation can help keep teens from being involved in a speed-related crash.

-Unstable vehicles can be hazards for teen drivers: Some SUVs offer less stability and a greater chance for rollover accidents. Abrupt steering maneuvers, which young drivers may be more prone to, can increase the risk of a skid, spin out or rollover accident.

-Good crash protection: As we have reported here previously, www.safecar.gov, Consumer Reports and other ratings agencies offer a look at how vehicles withstand crashes. Not all vehicles are created equal but safer vehicles can be found at any price point.

-Beware of small vehicles: While some vehicles of modest size may come with a good safety rating, smaller vehicles are generally not as safe as larger ones.

-Avoid older Vehicles: Modern vehicles offer far better crash protection than even those vehicles that are 6 to 10 years old.

Lastly, your choice of vehicle can have a substantial impact on the cost of insurance, which, if you have not yet priced, will certainly be an eye-opener. Most teen insurance polices start at several hundred dollars a month and can be much more expensive, depending on the type of vehicle you choose.
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Trib Local in Gurnee is reporting that an Illinois car crash involving multiple vehicles may have been caused by an icy bridge on Monday morning in Lake County. Some involved in the crash were seriously injured.

The accident took place around 6:30 AM the area of Knight Street and Belvedere Road in Park City. How the crash occurred, the specific injuries, and/or the number of people involved has not been reported.

The Park City Police Department and the Gurnee Fire Department (who covers Park City) responded to the accident. Gurnee fire sent three ambulances. The Gurnee Police Department also assisted and the North Chicago and Waukegan fire departments sent additional ambulances.