New legislation for school speed zones passed the Illinois House on April 19, 2013, and now the Illinois Senate holds in its hands the safety of thousands of school-age children. Not to mention the motorists who, should the bill pass, will need to use more caution when driving through designated school zones to avoid auto accidents and fines.
New Speed Zone Proposals
As the Chicago Tribune reported, data shows that most auto accidents in which school-age pedestrians are hit by vehicles occur at 3 p.m. with the next highest number of cases occurring at 5 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively. The current 20 m.p.h. speed limits are only in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days when children are present, but the data shows that a large number of autos are involved in accidents in school zones outside of those hours. That’s exactly what the new law aims to address by enforcing the 20 m.p.h. rule in a school zone any time a child is nearby, even if school is not in session. This includes weekends and holidays.
Hoping for Less Auto Accidents
If the new legislation passes the Illinois Senate, it could mean fewer auto-related accidents in school zones and greater safety for children. Clifford Law Offices, a firm of dedicated Chicago car accident attorneys, is familiar with auto accidents in school zones. In the past, Bob Clifford was awarded a $24.1 million verdict for an 8-year-old Chicago boy who was struck by a bus in a school crosswalk. The accident lawyers at Clifford Law Offices have the talent and resources to represent victims of school zone accidents. For more information call our Chicago car accident lawyers at (312) 899-9090.