Illinois lawmakers approve higher speed limit for toll roads

For many a Chicago auto accident attorney, the initiative appears to be an attempt to bring tollways to the same standards enacted by downstate interstate highways. While the governor vetoed the legislation, the Illinois House voted to override the veto.

Opposition to the bill

The governor based his veto on the argument that a higher speed limit would cause safety risks for everyone on the roadways. According to a report published by the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the increase of speed limits in several countries, including the U.S., correlated to a significant increase in fatalities. Research presented at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety National Forum on Speeding points to a number of studies that indicate that lowering speed limits reduces both vehicle speeds and crashes. Higher speeds increase the number of crashes.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows that there has been an increase of nearly 10 percent in fatality crashes between the years 2009 and 2013. In 2010, 31 percent of the fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents involved speeding. A Chicago auto accident attorney knows that a crash is considered speed related if a vehicle is moving too fast for current road conditions.

Driver responsibility and safety

Speeding is considered driver negligence because it indicates a failure to act in a way that a reasonably careful person would in the same circumstances. According to the Illinois State Police, even though a vehicle travels at the posted speed, the driver may receive a speeding ticket if the speed poses a danger due to traffic or road conditions. Speed should be reduced when approaching intersections, curves, hill crests or when other hazards exist. The Illinois State Police joined Governor Quinn in opposing Senate Bill 2015.

Motor vehicle crashes that occur at high speeds may cause extensive injuries and even fatalities. Concern over the cost of medical bills often impedes recovery. A Chicago auto accident attorney may be able to help victims who have been injured in speed-related motor vehicle crashes to hold the responsible driver liable.