It is a simple thing to do, but most drivers have been guilty of not using a turn signal while driving at least once in their lifetime. A recent study from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) revealed that approximately 2 billion occurrences of drivers failing to signal happen every day. On average, 48 percent of drivers fail to signal while changing lanes, while 25 percent fail to signal when turning. Not only is failing to use a turn signal considered a traffic violation in Illinois, but it can also lead to reckless driving charges, because it could lead to collisions. The study from SAE concluded that 2 million car collisions occur annually as a result of failing to signal.

How Does Illinois Enforce Turn Signal Usage?

It is against Illinois law to neglect to use a turn signal while driving. A turn signal should be given at least 200 feet before a turn, and the signal should be used before every lane change. There are other guidelines for drivers to follow in order to keep the road safe for all drivers and pedestrians:

Every state has rules when it comes to approaching and passing stopped school buses while they pick up or drop off students. Illinois law states that all drivers must stop when they see a school bus that has its safety bar outstretched, its lights flashing, and its stop sign engaged. The only exception to the rule is when the school bus is stopped on a four-lane highway. In this case, traffic moving in the other direction can proceed without stopping. Failure to stop and keep the road safe for crossing children can lead to fines and suspension of a person’s driver’s license. However, should an accident occur during an illegal pass, the offender could face more serious felony charges.

How Is Illinois Keeping Bus Stops Safer for Kids?

It does take time for a school bus to pick up its young passengers, and some drivers can get impatient waiting for the bus to proceed. Other drivers could be distracted and not even realize that they are recklessly putting a child’s life in danger by driving around the bus.

Generally, we like to drive to our daily destinations as fast as we can, and sometimes, there are reasons we need to be quick. Unfortunately, exceeding the posted speed limit can result in a driver being pulled over and issued a speeding ticket.

Speeding is a traffic violation that can have serious consequences. According to the Illinois State Police, 32 percent of all fatal car accidents are caused by drivers disobeying the speed limits. In some cases, speeding violations occur because of driver ignorance, but in others, drivers may violate speed limits because of the lack of proper signage on the road. Drivers should be sure to understand the traffic laws in Illinois and the potential penalties for a violation.

How Fast Should I Be Driving?

Each type of road has a maximum speed limit under Illinois law. If there are no speed limit signs present, drivers are responsible for knowing the proper speed based on the type of road and the conditions they encounter. The speed limits for different kinds of roads in Illinois include: