The Illinois State Police (“ISP”) and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced this week that the state will be using a new emergency notification system when there are car accidents that involve emergency personnel.

Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology and ISP partnered with Google Public Sector to develop a real-time, GPS-based alert system to tell drivers about upcoming ISP traffic activity.

The process begins when ISP sends their GPS coordinates to the Google Cloud. Waze transforms the information into an alert message that’s distributed to approaching drivers. A police crash or disabled vehicle icon will appear on their map screen…
Continue Reading Illinois State Police & Governor Announce New Traffic Accident Notification System

The much maligned and often teased (for their rediculous look), Tesla Cybertruck was recalled for the 5th time this year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) announced along with Tesla that 27,000 Cybertrucks due to a delay in rear-view camera images that could impair driver visibility and increase crash risks.

Tesla is is issuing a software update to address the latest issue. This is the largest of the five recalls made on the Cybertruck. Back in April a recall was made to fix a loose accelerator pedal pad and another in Juneover issues with windshield wipers and exterior trim.
Continue Reading Tesla Cybertrucks Recalled For The 5th Time This Year

Last month Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, signed a House Bill 4592 into law, which gives Illinois residents the option to have a mobile Illinois Identification Card or mobile driver’s license.

The digital version of the ID card would be issued in addition to the physical card, not instead. The law allows agencies and businesses to choose whether they want to accept digital IDs but bars anyone from requiring a digital ID over a physical card. 

Additionally, residents would still have to show their physical identification card to law enforcement, if the officer requests it. The law also gives officers immunity…
Continue Reading Illinois Governor Signs Bill Allowing Digital Driver’s Licenses On Phones

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), announced last week that it was recalling 41,637 Harley Davidson motorcycles due to a potential for short-circuiting and increased motorcycle crash risk.

The recall includes the FLHX, FLHXSE, FLTRX, FLTRXSE, and FLTRXSTSE models. According NHTSA’s notice, a voltage regulator wire may rub on other components near the motorcycles’ engine, wearing down the outer casing and exposing the wire. This can lead to short circuits and a loss of power with little to no warning to the driver.

This auto defect could lead to a very dangerous scenario for a motorcycle rider. If you…
Continue Reading NHTSA Announces Recall Of Over 40,000 Harley Davidson Vehicles

6 Illinois towns outside of Chicago received federal grants to study traffic safety accord to new outlet Patch. Manhattan, Illinois, a southwest Chicago suburb, received a $100,000 grant focused on Route 52, which runs through their downtown. The village of Manhattan will use the funds to study pedestrian safety and hopefully reduce traffic congestion.

Morris, village of Channahon and village of Minooka to receive a $320,000 Statewide Planning and Research grant for a traffic study on East Route 6. Each of these towns will split the funds equally.

The money, which stems from the bipartisen infrastructure plan signed by President…
Continue Reading 6 Chicago Suburbs Receive Federal Grant For Traffic Safety Study

I’ve been asked through the years by clients, friends and family what exactly they should do if they are involved in a motor vehicle accident. The most important thing to worry about is your safety and the safety of any passengers or those involved in the car crash. Beyond seeking immediate medical attention, I put together a list of what to do and what not to do following a traffic accident.

Do:

• Do get names, addresses, license plate and phone numbers of the involved drivers and any witnesses• Do call the police immediately or have someone at…
Continue Reading What To Do If You Are Inolved In A Car Crash

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) announced this week that GMC will be recalling approximately 450,000 SUVs and Trucks due to an electronic brake control module software that could fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid takes place.

The recall includes 2023-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESVs, 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban 1500, 2023 GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL,

GMC stated that the recall will include a free software update, which will hopefully eliminate the defect.

The NHTSA stated th a vehicle may be driven with…
Continue Reading GMC Recalls SUV And Pick Up Trucks For Brake Fluid Defect

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) announced a proposal aimed to protect podestrians during car crashes. “We have a crisis of roadway deaths, and it’s even worse among vulnerable road users like pedestrians,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman. “Between 2013 and 2022, pedestrian fatalities increased 57 percent from 4,779 to 7,522. This proposed rule will ensure that vehicles will be designed to protect those inside and outside from serious injury or death. We will continue to work to make our roads safer for everyone and help protect vulnerable road users.”

 NHTSA’s plan would essentially affect the…
Continue Reading NHTSA Proprosal Aimed To Protect Pedestrians

Inrix released their 2023 global traffic study earlier this summer, and unforturnately for Chicagoans, their city ranked 5th worst in the world. They are only behind New, Mexico City, London and Paris.

The study analyzed travel patterns in 950 cities worldwide. The group looked at “lost” hours as time spent in traffic “during peak commute periods compared to off-peak conditions.” In particular, the Dan Ryan and Stevenson expressways were among the most congested commutes in the United States last year.

Drivers who took the Dan Ryan from the Jane Byrne to I-57 everday on their commute during peak rush hour,…
Continue Reading Chicago Ranked World’s 5th Worst Traffic City

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), Toyota recalled their Grand Highlander SUV and Lexus TX due to an airbag defect. Specifically, the driver’s side curtain airbag might not deploy during a crash, increasing the chance of an injury. Toyota annunced that it will notify owners once a solution has been found.

The recall is for approximately 145,000 vehicles. In a press release Toyota stated that the affected airbags are located on the driver’s side, and the deployment problem might occur if the driver’s window is rolled down. Obviously, that could increase the risk of an injury during…
Continue Reading Toyota Recalls Popular Highlander SUV

A new study from the University of Nebraska concluded that nation’s guardrails are unable to handle electric vehicles (EV’s) which weigh thousands of pounds more than the average gas-powered sedan. The university’s “Midwest Roadside Safety Facility” conducted test crashes with an electric-powered pickup truck and a Tesla sedan by sending them into guardrails similar to those seen on U.S. roads and highways. The results of the tests found that our guardrails were not made to handle vehicles greater than 5,000 pounds. 

 The National Transportation Safety Board previously expressed concern last year about the safety risks that heavy electric vehicles pose if they…
Continue Reading Are Highway Guardrails Safe For EV’s?