Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for December 21, 2006 MOVE OVER...

...or slow down. It's not just common sense...in Illinois, it's the law. Violation can brings a heavy fine and/or imprisonment.

From the Southern Illinoisan...

State police begin Scott's Law crackdown

by andrea hahn, the southern

MARION - Not shifting lanes might cause drivers to get pulled over as state police troopers start cracking down on enforcement of "Scott's Law."

In Illinois, it's not merely courtesy that encourages drivers to shift lanes, putting some space between their moving vehicles and an emergency or roadwork vehicle on the side of the road. It's the law.

Drivers who fail to shift lanes or slow down as they approach an emergency or work vehicle with its warning lights activated can face fines of up to $10,000 or up to two years of license suspension.

Representatives of the state police and the Illinois Department of Transportation came together Wednesday morning to announce a crackdown on enforcing that law. Part of the reason for the tough enforcement is the death this year of an IDOT worker in Madison County.

IDOT Assistant Secretary David Phelps said every year five or 10 IDOT trucks are hit by drivers who later claim they didn't see the flashing lights and warning signs posted roadside. He said of the 23 people killed in work-zone crashes so far this year, though, only one was a worker.

"You can see this law doesn't just protect workers, but also the general public," he said. "We've seen the number of work-zone crashes decrease. But too many fatalities are happening still. For someone responding to an emergency and who is focused on trying to save someone's life, it can happen in a just a few minutes."

IDOT employee Randall Galbraith said he has lived through two close calls. The first time he was operating a truck-mounted attenuator - one of the big IDOT trucks with the flashing lights and the huge yellow, cushioned bumper. Those trucks, he said, are like a mobile protective wall. And he knows it works because he has seen and felt it in action.

"The first time I was sitting in a driving lane on Interstate 24," he said. "Two gentlemen from Tennessee ran into the back of it. They said they didn't see the warning signs and lights."

The second time Galbraith had a close call was on U.S. 45 south of Stonefort when he was operating a flag paddle. A driver hit the TMA and nearly Galbraith, missing him by about three feet.

Master Sgt. David Taylor said a similar near-miss happened when he had a semitrailer pulled over at about midnight. His squad car was behind the semi with its overhead flashers running. He was standing on the step of the semi talking with the driver. Another semitrailer sideswiped the squad car, totaling it. Had Taylor been in the car, it is doubtful he would have escaped injury.

Trooper Ray Minor, on most days part of the motorcycle patrol, was part of a high visibility enforcement on Illinois 13 west of Marion late Wednesday morning. Elizabeth Billeda, a 19-year-old from Murphysboro, was the first driver he stopped. She said she didn't know she was supposed to shift lanes when she approached the IDOT truck.

"I really didn't know," she said. "When the lights came on the police car behind me, I didn't even know at first he was going to pull me over. I thought he was going to go around me and get someone else. I don't want to break the law - I'm really sorry."

Minor gave the driver a warning and a quick driving lesson before sending her on her way.

"I do see a lot of drivers shift over," he said. "The problem is that, with the high volume of traffic we have, even the small percentage that don't shift lanes or slow down represent a lot of vehicles."

Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) was a co-sponsor of the bill creating Scott's Law. A former firefighter, he said he was glad to hear about the increased enforcement of the law.

"(Legislators) met with the family and put that legislation together, and there was a lot of testimony for the legislature that was very emotional," he said. "When you see the warning lights, that's telling you there is a hazard. Pay attention - it's something you should be doing anyway."

Since the legislation was enacted, state police have issued 4,626 citations and 8,808 written warnings to motorists for non-compliance with the statute. In 2005, there were 26 work-zone fatalities, including one worker. So far in 2006, there have been 23 work-zone fatalities, including one worker.