Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer Blog

The Division of Traffic Safety with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has found that there is an increase in motor vehicle fatalities occurring late at night. Fatalities occurring at night have the highest involvement of alcohol and the lowest safety belt usage.

Illinois law enforcement will be out in full force now through Labor Day conducting nearly two hundred roadside safety checks, patrolling for impaired driving and checking for safety belt usage.

According to data from IDOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the timeframe between midnight to 3 a.m. is the deadliest time on Illinois roads. From 2005 to 2008 in Illinois, more motor vehicle fatalities occurred between midnight and 3 a.m. than any other time of day. There was also a high number of fatalities occurring from 9 p.m. to midnight.
There is a higher rate of alcohol involvement in late night accidents as well. From 2005 to 2008, 67 percent of the motor vehicle fatalities occurring from midnight to 3 a.m. involved a drinking driver.

During the nighttime hours, motorists buckle up at a much lower rate. From 2005 through 2008, the midnight to 3 a.m. and the 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. timeframe had the lowest belt use involving motor vehicle fatalities. Only 27 percent of those who died in crashes during this timeframe were properly restrained.

On the night of Saturday, August 29, 2009, a man from Essex, Illinois was killed after the driver of another car ran a stop sign and their cars collided. The man and his wife were driving southbound on Route 129 in a Hyundai Tiburon when a man in a Chrysler 300M sedan headed west on Stripmine broadsided their vehicle.

The crash occurred about 6:50 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 129 and Stripmine Road just west of Wilmington, Illinois.

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All three individuals were taken to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet where the Essex man was pronounced dead.

The other driver resides in Oak Forest, Illinois and was cited for failure to reduce speed and disobeying a traffic signal.

Continue reading " ESSEX, ILLINOIS MAN KILLED IN A CAR CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION " »

In an effort to make the roads safer, Palos Park, a southwestern Chicago suburb, now offers a form on the Palos Park Police Department website, which can be used to inform the police of speeding, reckless driving, unsafe lane changes, failure to stop and intoxicated driving. When the police receive the form, an officer will investigate the information and speak with the drivers or their parents. The form is intended to make dangerous drivers aware that others are concerned with their unsafe driving.

No citations will be issued as a result of the form.

Continue reading " PALOS PARK OFFERS A FORM TO REPORT BAD DRIVERS " »

As an advocate of child safety in the home and safe products for consumers, I am asking everyone to check their window treatments to determine if they are part of a nationwide recall. Millions of window coverings are being recalled by Lewis Hyman, Pottery Barn Kids, IKEA, Lutron, Vertical Land and Victoria Classics. Additionally, some were sold at Target and Expo Design Center. The companies are recalling the products after the deaths of three children who were strangled by the product cords. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued the warning on Wednesday, August 26, 2009.

Two deaths were attributed to window treatments from Lewis Hyman Inc. of Carson. The company recalled 4.2 million roll-up blinds with plastic slats, sold throughout the country from 1999 through 2003 and 600,000 Woolrich Roman shades, sold at Target from 2006 through 2008.

Another death was attributed to a product by a Panama City Beach, FL company called Vertical Land Inc., which recalled thousands of blinds and shades that were sold at its stores in Florida from 1992 to 2006.

Pottery Barn Kids/Williams-Sonoma Inc. recalled 85,000 Roman shades. The products were sold at Pottery Barn Kids from 2003 to 2007.

IKEA recalled 120,000 Melina Roman blinds, sold from 2006 to 2008.

About 245,000 fabric roller shades are being recalled. Distributed by Lutron Electronics Co. of Coopersburg, Pa., they were sold by dealers and Expo Design Centers from 2000 through this April.

About 163,000 Roman shades in two styles -- thermal sailcloth and matchstick bamboo -- from Victoria Classics of Edison, N.J., are being recalled. The shades were sold at Target from September to June of 2009.

Continue reading " BLINDS AND SHADES RECALLED AFTER CHILDREN FATALLY INJURED " »

As a personal injury attorney in Chicago who handles car crash cases, I have seen the devastating effects of driving while distracted. Sadly, many of the injured people whom I have represented are teenagers who were in a vehicle with a teen driver. In Illinois, teenagers are given driving privileges and it is my opinion that they need to be fully aware of the responsibilities, as well as, the risks that accompany those privileges.

There has been debate in the media regarding a graphic public service announcement video that was produced in Wales and is intended to be shown to teenagers in the United States. The texting-while-driving video depicts a teen driving with another teen and texting. Due to the distraction, the teen driver drives head first into another car. The teens are shown bloodied and dazed when a third car careens into the passenger side. The driver looks over to see her friend has died and the scene changes to show a young child asking why her parents are not waking up.

I agree that the video is unsettling, but its message is strong and just might prevent a horrible tragedy involving distracted driving.

Continue reading " PSA VIDEO DEMONSTRATING THE DANGERS OF TEXTING WHILE DRIVING IS CAUSING A CONTROVERSY " »

Last week, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn enacted a new law that increases the speed limit for large trucks to 65 miles per hour in Illinois outside the six-county Chicago area. The increase applies to trucks carrying a gross weight of 8,001 pounds or more on interstates and other highways with at least four lanes and dividing medians.

Officials believe the speed increase may have a safety benefit by easing congestion. Officials explain that traffic jams result when big trucks are limited to 55mph while everyone else travels at 65mph. The different speeds can also cause problems during lane merges and lane change and can sometimes lead to accidents. One way to combat traffic fatalities is to have all of the vehicles on the freeway traveling at a relatively same maximum speed. This allows for traffic to flow in a more orderly fashion, especially across state lines where other states have had traditionally higher speed limits than Illinois.

The change will take effect on January 1, 2010.

Operation Teen Safe Driving is a statewide initiative spearheaded by the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety. The groundbreaking effort was designed to reduce teen crashes and save lives on Illinois' roadways. On Friday, officials from the IDOT and representatives from the Secretary of State, the Illinois State Police, and corporate sponsors including the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Allstate Foundation kicked off the third year of the program.

Operation Teen Safe Drive enlists young people to teach safe driving skills to their peers and engages high school students in a competition to design community-based driver safety programs targeted at teens. The program has helped Illinois achieve a dramatic 10 percent reduction in teen road fatalities in the first seven months of 2009; teen fatalities dropped from 50 in the first seven months to 2008, to 45 during the same time period this year.

Public and private high schools around the state are encouraged to identify the major teen traffic safety problems in their communities, and to propose creative solutions to those problems. High schools that come up with the most creative solutions will be invited to participate in the Ford Motor Company Fund's Driving Skills for Life "Ride and Drive" safe-driving clinics at the end of the school year. These "Ride and Drive" events feature professional drivers giving young drivers rigorous behind-the-wheel driving exercises.

An accident in southern Minnesota involving a vehicle with Illinois plates left four dead on Wednesday. The accident happened in a construction zone. Investigators say a Toyota veered into the wrong lane and was hit by a semi. The semi then lost control and hit a van. Officials don't believe weather played a factor in the accident, though the road was wet from rain just minutes prior to the accident.

A 62-year-old woman in the Toyota with Illinois plates and three people a van with Iowa plates were killed. The semi driver, an Iowan, was uninjured.

It is imperative to drive the speed limit in construction work zones. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), 21 people were killed in construction zone crashes in 2007.

IDOT offers the following safety tips for driving through work zones:

*SLOW DOWN: Posted speed limits in a work zone are not a suggestion; they are the law. Speed limits are there for your safety as well as the safety of the construction workers. Dangers still exist in work zones even if workers are not present. The Illinois State Police has zero tolerance for speeding in work zones and fines are doubled.

*PAY ATTENTION: Traffic patterns in work zones can change several times per day. Even drivers familiar with a particular road or work zone should be on the lookout for new lane closures and changing traffic patterns. Don't take anything for granted in a work zone. Expect the unexpected.

*FOLLOW THE SIGNS: Signs, arrowboards and flaggers are not there to make your life more difficult. They are there to help safely guide you through a work zone. Merge early when approaching a work zone; don't wait until the last moment.

*DON'T FOLLOW TOO CLOSELY: One of the most common crashes in a work zone is a rear-end collision. Drivers should make sure that they can safely stop if traffic backs up. Be sure to allow at least two seconds between your vehicle and the one in front of you and do not change lanes in a work zone.

*BE PATIENT: Most of the time a work zone will require a lane closure, so a driver will have to slow down well below the speed limit and should be prepared to stop if congestion is heavy or if construction equipment is being moved in the area. Impatience or anger will not get you through the work zone faster.

*TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS: Workers and other motorists need to be able to see your vehicle. Truckers should use their emergency flashers to warn trailing motorists that you are slowing.

The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County, along with attorney, Steven Greenberger, on behalf of Plaintiff, Dennis Connolly, as Father and Next Friend of Christopher Connolly, a Minor, on Monday, August 17th.

Christopher Connolly suffered a life-altering injury on February 28, 2007 due to an unfortunate series of events, including allegations of hazing, which were all under the control of Defendant, St. Ignatius College Prep. As a first-year student at St. Ignatius College Prep, Connolly was participating in junior varsity water polo practice when several St. Ignatius students allegedly threw pool equipment and snowballs at him at a St. Ignatius coach's direction. Another agent of St. Ignatius told Connolly to "get in" the pool as they were throwing the objects at him. Connolly dove into the pool, collided with the bottom, and is now a quadriplegic. Prior to this incident, Connolly had been nicknamed "Flounder" by his swim team coach, which was intended to be a derogatory nickname.

The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll have successfully handled spinal cord injury cases and sports injury claims, including a $12.5 million dollar settlement for a 17-year-old football player who was rendered a quadriplegic when he came into contact with a metal pole adjacent to a football practice field.

Athletic facilities should provide safe, functional equipment and can be liable if a patron is injured on their premises. Organizations, teams or individuals can similarly be liable should an athlete be injured on a playing field, court or arena.

For more on this story, please see the following links:
St. Ignatius Sued for Student Pool Injury
Family Sues St. Ignatius Over Hazing Incident
Paralyzed teen's parents sue Chicago school over alleged hazing
Click here to view the complaint.

Two boats collided Saturday night in Lake County's Nippersink Lake. Both drivers have since been charged with operating under the influence.

The driver of a 22-foot Crownline, a 53-year old man from Fox Lake, was driving his boat allegedly under the influence when he collided with a 20-foot Crownline, driven by a 48-year old man from Glenview. The 22-footer flipped over in the collision, sending a 55-year old female passenger out of the boat. A passerby rescued the woman and two deputies from the Lake County Sheriff's Marine Unit resuscitated her with CPR. She was taken by Flight for Life to Centegra Hospital-McHenry where she is now in fair condition.

This story serves as a reminder to all of us that drinking while boating is dangerous and can lead to catastrophic injuries. Thankfully there were no fatalities in this accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued stringent new braking standards that will save lives by improving large truck stopping distance by 30 percent. Ray LaHood, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transporation, said of the new standards, "Motorists deserve to know they are sharing the road with large trucks that are up tot he safest possible standards, so they can get home alive to their families."

The NHTSA estimates that the new braking requiement will save 227 lives annually as well as prevent 300 serious injuries and reduce property damage by more than $169 million.

The new standard requires that a tractor-trailer traveling at 60 miles per hour come to a complete stop in 250 feet. By contrast, the old standard required a complete stop within 355 feet. The new regulation will be phased in over four years beginning with 2012 models.

In 2008, 4,229 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks. This represents a 12 percent decline in the number of fatalities recorded in 2007.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Target, announced a voluntary recall earlier this week of Circo Booster Seats due to a fall hazard. Target, the exclusive seller of the defective seat, has received eight reports of the booster seat buckles opening unexpectedly. As such, consumers are urged to stop using the booster seat and return the item to a Target store to receive a full refund.

The recall involves Circo booster seats with manufacture date codes XJ0811, XJ0812, XJ0901 and XJ0902. You can find the manufacture date printed on the backside of the seat next to the consumer warning information. The recalled booster seat is blue with green trim and white straps.

The most dangerous intersection on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities, racking up 29 crashes in 2007 alone, is Kennedy Drive and Avenue of the Cities in East Moline. The Bi-State Regional Commission performed a study using data from 2007 and highlighted 23 accident-prone intersections in the Quad Cities. The Commission considered intersections with more than seven accidents, sevrity of those crashes involveing property damage, injury and fatality, and a ratio of crashes per 1 million vehicles.

Intersections studied on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities accounted for 258 crashes and 119 injuries. Of the intersections considered in Illinois, three of them occurred on John Deere Road -at 16th Street, 38th Street and 41st Street, respectively. Moline police credit congestion for the high accident rate and note that the road wasn't built to accommodate that many cars.

The Illinois and Iowa Departments of Transportation plan to make 30 million dollars worth of improvments to the roads in the Quad Cities to help ease congestion and reduce accidents, but are also considering a variety of less costly ways to reduce the accident rate, including the installation of red light cameras. Other smaller changes being considered to improve safety and aware driver awareness include adding more street signs and rumble strips, re-striping of the roads, creating a protected left turn and updating traffic signals.

A 9-year-old boy was tragically killed this past Tuesday after being crushed under a front-end loader of a Bobcat at a construction site on the south side of Chicago. The boy's father was converting a three bedroom flat into a condominium and had been performing work at the site for weeks. Witnesses had seen the boy and his brother at the site with their father on a number of occasions.

The boy was riding on a Bobcat when the tractor hit a pile of dirt causing the boy to be thrown from the cab of the front-end loader. The Bobcat then fell over onto the boy, crushing him. The boy was rushed to the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

My most heartfelt condolences to this family.

A seven-county survey performed by the Chicago Sun Times has found that motorcycle crash rates have increased significantly in the Chicago area in the last two years. A primary explanation of this spike is due to the increased number of motorcycles out on the road. According to the Illinois Secretary of State's office, the number of motorcycles registered in Cook County and the collar counties in 2008 was up 6% from 2006.

Cook County, not surprisingly, had the highest number of motorcycle crashes, recording 1,309 in 2006, 1,592 in 2007 and 1,654 in 2008. Only Kendall County reported a decline in crashes, with 40 in 2005, 37 in 2007 and 33 in 2008. Every other collar county (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will) all recorded increases each year. The total number of crashes for Cook and the outer-lying collar counties in 2006 was 2,180. This figure jumped nearly 22% percent in 2008 with 2,663 crashes recorded.

Despite the rising number of crashes, the number of actual motorcycle fatalities in the Chicago area rose only slightly between 2006 and 2008. Nevertheless, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the national rate of motorcycle death rose 2.2% last year. Fortunately, the NHTSA also reports some happier news: the death rate for passenger vehicles dropped 13% last year.

The Hurt Study, which is the most comprehensive motorcycle study to date, concluded that the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents is the failure of motorists to recognize the presence of motorcyclists on the road. This has important ramifications for everyone on the road. As drivers, we need to be more aware of what is going on in our surroundings. Be alert and limit your distractions by putting your phone out of reach or even turning it off. As motorcyclists, we need to drive more defensively, recognizing that drivers may very well not see us, and actively make ourselves more visible by wearing reflective clothing and using other protective equipment. If you or a loved one ride, consider taking a safety course.

Continue reading " MOTORCYLE CRASHES ON THE RISE IN CHICAGOLAND AREA " »

A pilot operating an ultralight Challenger LSS airplane hit a powerline and crashed in the Kankakee River Sunday night. The 45-year-old pilot was found to have a blood alcohol level exceeding the .04 federal limit for operating an aircraft.

Witnesses reported that the plane was flying low over the river when it struck the lowest group of wires. The plan landed in the water upside down. Rescuers pulled the plane to shallow water and cut the pilot out of his safety harness with a utility knife. The pilot suffered two broken legs and a collapsed lung in the accident.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board is continuing to investigate the accident. The Kankakee County District Attorney's Office plans to bring the case before a grand jury in the next two weeks and expects to file charges against the pilot.

A 20-year-old ATV driver pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated reckless driving last week in Morris, Illinois. The driver further pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with a willful disregard for the safety of its passenger by driving the vehicle without an operating headlight and colliding with a Morris police squad car. A judge sentenced the driver to 60 days in the Grundy County Jail, 30 months probation, 200 hours of community service and a $200 fine. The judge also sentenced the driver to periodic drug testing and banned him from entering businesses that primarily serve alcohol and from drinking alcohol.

The accident occurred nearly one year ago when a police squad car was investigating a report that an ATV was in or near a local cemetery. The police car was traveling eastbound on Cemetery Road when the ATV attempted to cross in front of the car but collided with it. A 19-year-old male passenger on the ATV suffered fatal injuries in the accident.

Grundy County prosecutors felt jail time was necessary despite requests from the victim's mother that the driver be spared jail time. Charges of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide were dismissed.

ATV crashes are usually the result of the person driving irresponsibly and not paying attention. The dangers associated with the improper operation of an ATV are typically the result of young, inexperienced drivers.

If you're going to ride an ATV you should always wear protective clothing and a helmet. Investigate your local area for ATV rider education programs which show you the best rider safety instructions. Do not carry a passenger on the ATV and, whenever possible, avoid riding upon public roadways. Safety education and supervision is very important and could very likely save the your life or that of your child.

Governor Quinn approved legislation on Friday that will impose stiffer penalties for uninsured drivers who cause in car accidents. While the current law subjects uninsured motorists to a measly $500 fine, the new law, inspired by the death of a 25 year old teacher, could mean up to either one year of jail time or a $2500 fine.

The new law, which amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, will go into effect on January 1, 2010. Under the new law, uninsured drivers who cause an accident will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor.

Illinois State Senator Gary Forby, one of the bill's sponsors, called the existing law a "slap on the wrist," and called for a "stronger response for this offense." He noted that, "the state requires insurance to help redress just this kind of situation. If there is no real penalty for breaking the law, what good does it do?"

Uninsured drivers who cause accidents need to be held accountable for their actions. I think this new law is a step in the right direction. It will not only penalize these drivers in a more appropriate fashion, but it will hopefully also act as an incentive to all drivers in Illinois to get car insurance.

At least 20 people have been infected with Hepatitis A after eating at a McDonald's located in Milan, Illinois. Health officials believe an infected employee worked for 7 days in July, thereby spreading the virus to patrons.

Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease transmitted by ingesting microscopic amounts of fecal matter or contaminated food or coming into close contact with an infected person. Health officials estimate that nearly 10,000 people who have eaten at the McDonald's in question will need to get preventative treatment.

Keep these tips in mind to prevent infection from contaminated foods:
* If you're eating out, check the restaurant for general cleanliness. An unclean restaurant may indicate a greater likelihood of dangerously unclean cooking conditions.
* Wash your hands before eating. Many suspected cases of food poisoning are caused by the patrons rather than the food, so keep antibacterial foams, gels or wipes available before eating and be sure to wash thoroughly before handling any food.
* Eat food while still hot. Once food cools, bacteria can multiply at an extraordinary rate.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will sign an amendment to the Illinois Vehicle Code today that will prohibit writing, sending or receiving text messages while driving. The law extends to not just text messaging, but other types of "electronic messages," such as emails or instant messages. The law makes exceptions for drivers pulled over, parked or stopped in traffic. The enactment of this amendment makes Illinois the 17th state in the country to outlaw texting while driving.

The Governor's Highway Safety Association acknowledges that passing laws banning texting while driving is not the solution, but is rather only part of it. Barbara Harsah, executive director of the GHSA noted, "The laws won't really have any effect unless they're enforced and the public knows about it and it's properly adjudicated."

Studies have repeatedly shown that those who text while driving have an exponentially greater risk of an accident.

I am pleased that Illinois is helping lead the way to target and punish drivers distracted by this dangerous behavior.

One of the most thrilling activities that people can engage in these days is skateboarding. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 104,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms in 2001 with skateboard-related injuries.

If you or your child enjoy skateboarding, please follow these safety tips to prevent or minimize the risks associated with skateboarding:

* Before riding, check the area you will be riding in by looking for holes, bumps, rocks or any debris.
* Check your skateboard for hazards such as loose, broken or cracked parts; sharp edges on metal boards; slippery top surface; or wheels with nicks or cracks.
* Wear protective gear such as helmets, wrist guards, and elbow and knee pads to reduce the severity of injuries.
* Never ride in the street.
* Don't take chances. Complicated tricks require careful practice and a specifically designed area.
* Only one person should ride a skateboard at a time.
* Never grab onto a car, bus, truck or bicycle.
* Learning to fall helps reduce your chances of being seriously injured.
* If you are losing your balance, crouch down on the skateboard so that you will have so far to fall.
* In a fall, try to land on the fleshy parts of your body and try to roll rather than absorb the force with your arms and try to relax your body.

Consumer Reports has ranked hospitals across the nation based on patient satisfaction surveys conducted in 2007 and 2008. Twelve Chicago hospitals received ranking below the national average, including: Thorek Memorial Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital Medical Center, Sacred Heart Hospital, Provident Hospital Of Chicago, Advocate Trinity Hospital, Norwegian-American Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, St Bernard Hospital, South Shore Hospital, Roseland Community Hospital, Loretto Hospital and Jackson Park Hospital. Most of these hospitals serve poor areas with limited resources.

The ratings provide a useful resource for anyone who wants information about their local hospital. The Chicago hospitals' low scores are in multiple areas, including staff attentiveness, communication about new medications, room and bathroom cleanliness, quietness, communication with nurses, pain management, and discharge planning. The two areas of greatest concern -- communication about new medications and discharge planning -- are key areas of concern because they directly impact a patient's recovery. Lack of communication about new medications results in drug interaction problems. Ill-planned discharge instructions lead to risk of complications and re-hospitalization.

The Illinois Hospital Association argues that the ratings are misleading since they only focus on patient experiences, not clinical quality care. Nonetheless, the Association says all of the Chicago hospitals on the list have attempted to make patient improvements.

Click here if you would like to see more information on the ranking provided by Consumer Reports for a fee.

The Joint Commission, a health care regulatory group that promotes quality and safety in health care in the United States, has enlisted parents in a national campaign to prevent medical errors in children. The Committee has furnished brochures -- available online, in English and Spanish -- as part of the group's Speak Up campaign.

The campaign's brochures provide parents with questions and answers that can help them navigate many common, yet complex health care situations. Among the topics are:
• Preparing for your child's visit to the doctor's office
• What you should ask the doctor
• How you can help prevent your child from getting an infection
• Taking medicine safely
• Having a blood test, X-ray, MRI or CT scan
• Going to the hospital
• Having a safe operation

The program urges parents and guardians of children to inquiry into the necessity of all tests and treatments for a child's illness or injury. If a parent does not understand what a doctor is saying, tell him or her. By asking questions a parent is helping the doctor understand what information is needed.

The program also recommends that parents remind caregivers to wash or clean their hands before touching children. Hand washing helps prevent infections. Additionally, parents should always pay attention to the care that their child receives, confirming that the child is getting the right treatments and medicines by the right health care professionals. They also encourage parents to ask about the side effects of medicine and the risks of medical tests.

As a personal injury lawyer in Chicago, I have represented a number of clients whose lives were destroyed by truck crashes involving faulty brakes on trucks or a driver's failure to stop the big rig quickly enough. Perhaps these types of crashes will be minimized thanks to the new requirement of the National Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) intended to improve large truck stopping distance by thirty (30) percent. The new standard requires that a tractor-trailer traveling at 60 miles per hour come to a complete stop in 250 feet. The old standard required a complete stop within 355 feet.

The new regulation will be phased in over four years beginning with 2012 models.

The NHTSA estimates that the new braking requirement will save 227 lives annually, and will also prevent 300 serious injuries. It is estimated to reduce property damage costs by over $169 million annually.

The new rule should speed up the introduction of the latest brake technology into America’s freight hauling fleets and will help truck drivers avoid collisions with other vehicles.

The new rule applies only to truck tractors, and does not include single-unit trucks, trailers and buses.

Continue reading " NHTSA ISSUES MORE STRINGENT RULE FOR LARGE TRUCK BRAKES " »

From July 30th through August 4th, the American Bar Association (ABA) is holding its annual meeting here in Chicago. On Saturday evening, Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter gave the keynote address at the opening assembly. As part of his address, Justice Souter urged America's lawyers to help revitalize civic education. Justice Souter warned that the failure of many Americans to understand how the government works poses a serious threat to our nation. "There is a danger to judicial independence when people have no understanding of how the judiciary fits into the constitutional scheme," Souter said.

I have gathered here a few websites for kids, which I believe are instructional and provide the fundamentals of our great nation's government. The White House has a great site regarding how the government works and the State of Illinois offers a site as well to demonstrate its system. PBS Kids offers a site as well to increase kids' interest in learning about the government.

Additionally, the White House has set up a flickr.com account to give a glimpse into the daily events at the White House. This site may interest children in civics as well!

Continue reading " RETIRED JUSTICE SOUTER SPEAKS REGARDING THE NEED TO TEACH AMERICA'S YOUTH ABOUT CIVICS AT AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL MEETING " »