Results tagged “driving”

A new study by INRIX, "a leading innovator of real-time, historical and predictive traffic information," tells us something most of us already knew: driving in Chicago sucks. According to their most recent list, Chicago ranks third in congestion behind Los Angeles and New York. Okay, but, then again, Chicago is also third in terms of population so this sort of makes sense. The area also boasts several of the worst bottlenecks in the nation. In fact, we contribute 25 of the top 100, including three in the top 20: North-bound Exit 53 (Canalport Ave/Cermak Rd) off of the Dan Ryan (#8), East-bound Exit 17 (US 12/US 20/US 45) off of the Eisenhower Expressway (#10), and - naturally - North-bound Exit 52 (Ruble) off of the Dan Ryan (#19).

City Hall's response to cell-phone-yapping motorists is simple: get a hands-free device or put a sock in it. While that's still the case, a new plan working its way through city council would scale back the punishment for offenders of the cell phone ban, which now includes text messaging and internet surfing. Under the current ordinance, talkative drivers have their license taken away by the police department and can only get it back after they pay a fine or go to court. But during Wednesday's full council meeting, Mayor Daley introduced a proposal that allows offenders to keep their license. The proposal also allows violators the opportunity to contest their ticket by mail or through an administrative hearing.

We've been following the recent proposal to ban texting and web surfing while driving and now it's official: the city council unanimously approved the ban yesterday. You'll be allowed to do so only while your car is in park. Tickets will be $75 for a violation and $200 if the violation results in an accident. Hey! A local ordinance we actually support! Who knew?

A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says states should raise the age at which teens can get drivers licenses to 17 or 18. The report says higher licensing age "would save lives."

In the last year in Illinois, cell phone use was listed as the primary or secondary cause of 1,357 crashes, in which eight people died and 351 were injured. IDOT says these numbers are probably low, given that not all law enforcement officers fill out crash reports as thoroughly as they're supposed to.

According to a report released today by the Metropolitan Planning Commission, congestion costs the Chicago region billions of dollars a year. Those numbers are always kinda debatable, but agreed: Traffic = not fun.

Every year, 71 Chicago pedestrians are killed and 930 are seriously injured when they're hit by cars, according to the North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. The most dangerous intersection for pedestrians is 79th and King Drive, where 13 people were hit in 2003 and 2005, the years for which information was available.

Mayor Daley wants to boot cars after two tickets instead of three, which he says will help the city close its $400 million budget gap by bringing in around $48 million.

Chicago has the third worst traffic in the country, according to a new study. Only LA and New York out-congest us. Bee-beeep!

Not only are local gas prices awful (averaging $4.19 per gallon), but apparently so are our drivers.

According to CBS2, Secretary of State Jesse White is planning to propose a ban on texting while driving. Chicago's ban on talking on a cell phone on the road took effect three years ago, but law enforcement officials feel that it needs to be tightened in response to the dramatic increase in text messaging.

What kinds of cars do Chicagoans drive?

What's the Speed Limit?