Tag Archives: IDOT
Zombies Attack In Click It Or Ticket Ad Campaign
Virginia is for lovers and Halloween is for zombies.
Despite the fact that this public service announcement was actually released back in May, in the spirit of Halloween, we thought we’d share IDOT’s “Zombie” click it or ticket video reminding drivers to wear their seat belts–even if you’re in the back seat of the vehicle.
Actually, these are pretty decent ads as they lack the usual overbearing hectoring of a typical lame PSA. The cleverness and sense of humor makes it effective in our opinion. Of course, perhaps we’re just suckers for zombies here.
Below is a bonus video, the second of three in the campaign. The third one is in Spanish. How does one say “Click it or ticket” or “zombie” in Spanish?
IDOT Launches New YouTube Video Series
The Illinois Department of Transportation launched a new YouTube video series this week aptly called “On The Move.”
IDOT says videos will be produced on an ongoing basis and allow Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider to keep Illinois citizens up to date on state transportation issues.
“This video series is an opportunity for me to provide further details on several imperative topics here at IDOT and also to elaborate on what we are working on to help keep you, the motorist, informed, said Schneider in a press release. “I look forward to discussing new projects and initiatives as well as letting you know how you can help us keep our roads safe.”
The inaugural video of the series concentrates on traffic safety. Schneider gives the lowdown on those digital billboard displays which keep a running total of the number of traffic fatalities which have occurred on roads within the state and then spends some time passing on some solid traffic safety tips.
Here’s the link to IDOT’s YouTube channel.
Circle Interchange May Get $375 Facelift
Big changes may be coming to Chicago’s Circle Interchange.
Considered one of the most congested segments of highway in the nation, this vehicular confluence, where the Dan Ryan, Kennedy and Eisenhower expressways and Congress Parkway meet, sees about 300,000 cars per day.
Because of it’s location and importance to local, regional and national transportation, the Illinois Department of Transportation is considering many ideas on how to increase capacity and therefore reduce the time wasting traffic backups the interchange currently produces.
In fact, IDOT held an information open house on the project last Thursday at the Marriot Hotel on the UIC Campus to show possible solutions as well as week public input for the project. According to the Daily Herald, there are many ideas being proposed–some conventional and some, let’s say out of the box ideas.
Drivers Should Expect More Traffic, More Delays This Labor Day Weekend
If your family is planning to hit the road this Labor Day weekend, the AAA Motor Club says to expect a bit more traffic than last year.
AAA is projecting a third straight year of increases in Labor Day automobile travel nationally and in Illinois. The group estimates 1.8 million people will be driving more than 50 miles over the next few days, a 2.6% increase from 2011.
And that’s despite higher gas prices, where statewide the average cost of unleaded gasoline is going for $4.13 per gallon, a full 30 cents per gallon higher than last year according to AAA’s daily Fuel Gauge Report.
More Traffic = Longer Delays
With more cars on the road, expect slightly longer travel times this holiday according to INRIX, a company that provides traffic data and information.
Sun-Times: Chicagoland’s 20 Most Dangerous Intersections
While a list of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s most dangerous intersections pinpoints spots all over the greater Chicagoland area, the number one spot is reserved of course, by Chicago.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the intersection at Stony Island Avenue at South Chicago Avenue is area’s most prolific producer of vehicle crashes with a total of 63 in 2010.
The newspaper makes the case that this particular intersection is extraordinarily confusing. Most drivers who have experienced this busy multi-roadway confluence would concur.
The article quotes DePaul University transportation scholar, Professor Joseph Schwieterman.
Slow Down! It’s Work Zone Awareness Week
With road construction projects sprouting up all over Chicago and the State of Illinois, local agencies have announced their participation in National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Both the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Tollway Authority and a handful of other groups have launched the Embrace the Orange Campaign to reduce traffic related crashes, injuries and deaths in road work zones.
Work Zone Awareness Week began Monday, April 23rd and runs through Friday.
IDOT says there are an average of over 7,000 work zone crashes in Illinois each year. Last year, 24 people died in work zones statewide. Of the 24, one victim was a pedestrian, two were construction workers, and 21 were drivers or vehicle passengers.The goal is to reduce work zone deaths to zero.
Trib: City Crash Statistics Faulty, Erroneous
First responders on the scene of a River North car crash
Chock full of errors.
That’s essentially the takeaway from a Chicago Tribune story published Monday that reveals how unreliable Chicago crash data is or at the very least, has been.
The Tribune compared crash data for Chicago from the Illinois Department of Transportation against crash data from the City of Chicago itself.
In many cases, usually the most crucial areas of measurement, the two entities were at odds.
According to the Trib report, the root of the problem comes from errors in how crash reports are filed. The story says an IDOT audit of Chicago’s procedure shows 30% of crash reports filed by Chicago police officers were erroneous with 70% of the reports missing critical information.
State Suspends Construction For Easter Holiday Weekend
With heavy traffic volumes expected for the Easter holiday, the Illinois Department of Transportation is halting roadway construction projects for the weekend.
Starting today, Good Friday, at 3 PM, IDOT is halting all non-emergency road work and opening up all lanes where possible to facilitate maximum traffic flow through construction areas through midnight on Sunday. Some lane closures will remain in effect, depending on the project, but IDOT is providing a list as reference for motorists planning a trip on their website.
Illinois Teen Driver Deaths Jump First Half Of 2011
After 15 years of dramatically declining deaths of teen drivers, preliminary numbers in a just released report for the first half of 2011 seem to indicate a mild reversal of that trend nationally but a startling jump in teen driver fatalities in Illinois.
The Governors Highway Safety Association is reporting traffic deaths for 16 and 17 year-old drivers have risen 11%, jumping from 211 for the first six months of 2011 compared to 190 for the same period in 2010.
“If this trend continued in the second half of 2011, it will mark a reversal of longstanding yearly declines in teen driver deaths, especially among 16-year-olds,” states the GHSA report.
City, State Prepare For First Snowstorm Of Winter
City Debuts ‘Plow Tracker’ App To Follow Plow Progress
A snow plow waits next to Wrigley Field for the first flakes of snow Thursday morning
Get ready Chicago drivers, we’re finally going to get hit with a substantial amount of snow.
Depending on which TV meteorologist you listen to and where you live, we’re going to see two to seven of inches of the white stuff over the next day or so.
Both the City of Chicago and the state of Illinois are preparing for the first significant snow removal challenge of the season.
“We want all motorists to be aware of winter road conditions and encourage drivers to slow down, buckle up, and cooperate with snow plows,” said Ann Schneider, Secretary for the Illinois Department of Transportation. “IDOT winter crews remain prepared to clear state roadways as needed, but we also ask motorists to take the necessary steps to help ensure their personal safety as well.”
