Quinn Signs New Law To Protect Pedestrians in Crosswalks

By Lindsey Miller in News on Aug 3, 2010 9:00PM

Late last week, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill into law that requires motorists and bicyclists to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. The previous law protecting crosswalks only asked motorists to "yield and stop when necessary," while the new law says drivers "must stop for pedestrians." In theory, this makes the law easier to understand and enforce. The Active Transportation Alliance came up with a handy list of frequently asked questions [PDF] about the law. Of 6,000 pedestrians hit each year by cars, 172 are killed with most fatalities occurring in crosswalks.

Fines for not stopping in Cook County have not changed and start at $50. If you're unclear what a crosswalk is, there are four different types in Illinois (link opens pdf). Some are unmarked, and exist where a sidewalk leads into the street. Still, when the state legislature passed this bill back in April, lawmakers and commenters expressed doubt that it would change anything. The Active Transportation Alliance contends that there needs to be more education. However, Illinois is still only the twelfth state in the country (plus D.C.) to enact such a law.