If you were previously unaware, then you should now know that texting and driving is illegal throughout Illinois. Unlike other states, the ban on texting and driving in Illinois applies to every age group regardless of whether you’re a teenager or senior citizen. In fact, the Illinois Department of Transportation and several other safety agencies have joined together to promote their safety program called “Drive now, text later. You can’t do both,”
The dangers of texting and driving are substantial. According to the National Safety Council, nearly 1.2 million or roughly 24 percent of all traffic collisions can be attributed to drivers who text and talk on their cellphones while operating their vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a driver who is texting while operating his or her vehicle stands a 23 times greater chance of having an accident during that interval when he or she is sending a text.
State safety agencies marked their first anniversary of promoting the new state law banning texting and driving back in 2011. Despite the massive promotion of the safety initiative on billboards, radio and TV spots and over the internet, as much is 40 percent of drivers responded that they were unaware of the ban in online surveys.
Numbers compiled in Illinois back in 2011 show that more than 1,100 crashes occurred in which cellphone communications, including texting, were either the primary or secondary causes of those accidents.
Illinois drivers have a right to use the roads without fear of suffering death or injury at the hands of a distracted driver. Fortunately, state laws permit injured motorist to sue careless drivers in civil court for compensation of their injuries. If successful, victims of preventable car accidents can recover money damages for their medical costs, lost wages and other associated expenses. If you have been injured, contact our Chicago car accident lawyers today for a free case evaluation.