Local Celebs Participate in Demonstration to Raise Awareness of Drunk Driving Accidents in Illinois

We can now say goodbye to the summer season. Unfortunately the risks of drunk driving car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere will not diminish as we head into football season and the year-end holidays. With the holiday season approaching, more and more drivers head out to local hot spots to celebrate good times with friends and family, according to KTTC.

To help reduce the risks of these drunk driving accidents, Pete McMurray, the morning show host for Chicago's 97.9 The Loop and NBC Chicago's "24/7" television show, uses his time on the air to raise awareness in drivers of the effects of driving while intoxicated. He uses his shows to educate his listeners about the dangers and the consequences that motorists face when sharing the roadways with an irresponsible and intoxicated drivers.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand that a large number of motorists are injured and killed by intoxicated drivers every year. To help combat this number, the Illinois State Police recently conducted a "Wet Lab Experiment." As we recently discussed on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, a wet lab experiment requires participants to consume an amount of alcohol that would place them at a legally drunk level (.08 blood alcohol concentration). They are then asked to complete a number of tasks that a normal drunk driver would if they were stopped by an officer, including a DUI arrest and Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs). McMurray was also a part of the demonstration.

McMurray participated in a wet lab experiment live during The Pete McMurray Show on 97.9 The Loop. The experiment took place late last month.

"It is important for people to know what effect even a single drink can have on your abilities and judgment. Even at 6am when we're starting the show and certain third shift socialites are just hitting their favorite pub," said McMurray.

Jane Monzures, the host of "Living Healthy Chicago" of WGN, also joined McMurray for the drunk driving awareness demonstration.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 300 people that were killed because of traffic accidents that involved an intoxicated driver in 2009 in Illinois. Our state reports that about 50,000 people are arrested every single year for driving while intoxicated.

After the experiment, members from the Chicago, Police Department, The National Transportation Safety Administration, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the media personalities and a number of other state officials participated in a press conference to discuss the findings of the wet lab.

It's no surprise that drinking and driving is a dangerous habit, yet far too many motorists continue to endanger innocent motorists on our roadways. With increased enforcement efforts and more conscious driving habits, we can all contribute our efforts to help make our roadways safer during the upcoming holiday season and year round.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving car accident, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.

More Blog Entries:

Officers Crackdown on Intoxicated Drivers to Prevent Fatal Car Accidents over the Labor Day Weekend, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, September 2, 2011

Chicago injury lawyer settles DUI accident lawsuit for $100,000 policy limits, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, July 24, 2011

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Local blogger highlights the dangers of Chicago bicycle accidents on the lakefront trail

In light of the Department of Transportation Commissioner’s pronouncement in the Chicago Journal that he wants to make the city one of the most bike-friendly in the nation, a local blogger has requested he take a hard look at what he calls one of the most dangerous places for bicycle accidents in the city – the lakefront trail.

The Urban Cyclist, as he is known on his blog of the same name, said he was shocked to learn that the city’s $45 million Navy Pier Flyover plan would actually constrict the bike path at certain points, even though it is in desperate need of expansion. As a daily bicycle commuter, he has escaped serious injury in accidents with cars, cabs, and other cyclists, but an inattentive jogger on the lakefront trail left him with permanent scars on his hands.

He says the trail is basically an overcrowded highway for non-engine vehicles. Cyclists and bladers are intermingled with dog-walkers, their unpredictable pets, grandparents mindlessly walking grandkids, and various other outdoor enthusiasts who have no other option but to crowd together on the congested path.

The blogger measured the trail at 6 feet for each lane, with the new plan calling for 5 foot lanes in each direction with a 3 foot shoulder on both sides. While this is technically more space, he says the unpaved shoulder is unusable for cyclists and joggers rarely use them. He predicts the traffic and dangers will actually increase.

While he admittedly has no statistics to back up his claims, as Chicago does not keep statistics on bike-bike or bike-pedestrian accidents, he invites everyone to take a ride with him down the trail and tell him otherwise. He worries that with the Mayor and the head of CDOT aiming to make Chicago one of the bike-friendliest cities in the nation (read the story as reported by CBS news here), the increased traffic may make biking in the city even more dangerous than it currently is.

While Illinois bike crash lawyers at our office agree that the lakefront trail presents its share of hazards, inattentive drivers are still the greatest danger to cyclists in this city. Injuries to bicyclists when involved in collisions with motor vehicles often result in catastrophic injuries, and sometimes death.

The Chicago Tribune reports that drivers frequently veer into designated lanes, turn in front of cyclists, and open their doors in the path of bikers, also known as “dooring.” According to an NHTSA study, 630 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents and another 51,000 were injured nationwide in 2009, with 70% of the fatalities occurring in urban areas like Chicago. 20 of those fatalities occurred in Illinois alone. The study cites a number of things drivers can do to avoid injuring cyclists, including:

• Allowing at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a biker on the road
• Look for cyclists before opening your car door or pulling out of a parking spot
• Yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and markers
• Be especially careful to look for cyclists before making turns
• Pay attention

Cyclists have the same rights as motorists when traveling on public roads, and drivers need to make an effort to learn the rules of the road and how to properly implement cyclist awareness into their ever day driving habits.

If you have been injured in an Illinois cycling accident due to a negligent driver, please contact a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer for a free consultation. Call (866) 99-ABELS now.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer