Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog
A report released by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning has determined that there has been substantial progress in Chicago traffic safety between 2002 and 2008. The study found that Chicago car accident fatalities have declined dramatically since early last decade. The drop in Chicago automobile accident deaths has been linked to safety enhancements on roadways as well as safer and better equipped vehicles. However, experts agree that there is still a lot of work to be done in improving the safety of our roadways. For example, almost 300,000 traffic accidents occur each year in the Chicago area with a fatal crash occurring about once every twenty one and a half hours.
The findings of the study are quite encouraging. The report determined that the annual number of deaths and injuries from vehicle accidents fell approximately 12.5 percent from 2002 to 2005 and about 18 percent from 2005 to 2008 with traffic related fatalities declining from 629 to 437 between 2005 and 2008. The study used statistics that were compiled by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Of the areas that were examined, DuPage County had the lowest fatality rates while suburban Cook County and Lake County had the second lowest. Car accident crash rates remain the highest within the City of Chicago where the rates are nearly three times those of rural areas. Of those fatal crashes within the city, nearly 25 percent involve pedestrian fatalities.
The recent study of traffic fatalities in the Chicago area is very promising, however Chicago roadways remain a very dangerous place for drivers and pedestrians alike. If you have been involved in a Chicago area car accident or would otherwise like to speak with an attorney, please click here.