Walk, Don’t Walk: The Perils of the Crosswalk

Every motorist in Illinois knows what they look like: white painted stripes across the roadway, at roadway intersections and between intersections. These are crosswalks, and while most drivers know what they are, knowing what they must do when they come to them is another matter. Some crosswalks may be accompanied by stop signs or traffic signals and that makes the message to the driver is much clearer. But what about crosswalks in between intersections which have no signs or lights?

New Crosswalk Law
Up until May 2010 Illinois traffic law required “slowing down or stopping if need be” to yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing the roadway. However in May 2010 that law was changed —and tightened— to require drivers to come to a complete stop before yielding. The problem is that few drivers appear to know the law has changed, and what was meant to increase protection for pedestrians may actually put them in greater danger.

Simply put, if a pedestrian believes oncoming traffic will obey the new law and come to a halt when the pedestrian is on the crosswalk, he may be in for a rude awakening, or worse. For that and other reasons the new law was opposed by state Senator Bill Duffy, saying it may create false expectations for pedestrians. Even if a motorist correctly obeys the law and stops for a pedestrian on the crosswalk, there remains a chance that a car following will not be anticipating the rapid stop, and a rear-end collision could take place.

Despite reservations such as these, the measure gained support inside and outside the state legislature and was signed into law by Governor Quinn.


Reinforces Need to Buy Insurance
“The requirement for motorists to stop for pedestrians on crosswalks is yet one more reason why Illinois drivers must have in place the mandatory liability insurance” says Cynthia Garcia, Marketing Director for Active, Insurance a Chicago -based insurance agency specializing in low cost insurance for Illinois drivers. “The tragedy of hitting a pedestrian on a crosswalk will be magnified if the driver has no insurance” adds Ms. Garcia.

Proceed with Care
With education and increased awareness the new crosswalk law should eventually result in a safer crosswalk environment for pedestrians. Illinois drivers must become familiar with the requirements and follow them when they drive. However until the changes achieve widespread recognition and understanding, pedestrians are well-advised to exercise extreme caution when entering crosswalks, and not to expect that every oncoming vehicle will stop and yield as it should.

Active Insurance Agency has provided low-cost auto insurance for drivers in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin for nearly 50 years. Its online car insurance quotes make comparing automobile insurance rates quick and easy. Best of all, no credit score or driver’s license number is needed to get a quote. Active Insurance also won’t ask for your Social Security number, so you can keep your confidential and personal information private. If you need a bond card, Active Insurance Agency has those too.

1034 N. Ashland Ave. Chicago, IL 60622
http://www.activeinsurance.com

This release was published on openPR.