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Illinois Secretary of State Safe Driving Tips - Bedford Park Police Department |
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AVOID DISTRACTED DRIVING
Illinois law prohibits the use of hand-held cellphones, texting or using other electronic communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. Handsfree devices or Bluetooth technology is allowed for persons age 19 and over. Using a cellphone while holding the device and utilizing the speaker phone is not considered hands free and is a violation of Illinois Law. Using hands-free technology such as a headset or voice activated controls is considered a distraction while driving and can be dangerous. If a driver must make a phone call, even with hands-free technology, it is recommended the driver pull off to the side of the road before making the call. The only time an Illinois driver can use a cellphone that is not hands free is:
- To report an emergency situation
- While parked on the shoulder of a roadway
- While stopped due to normal traffic being obstructed and the vehicle is in neutral or park. A driver who is in a crash resulting from distracted driving may face criminal penalties and incarceration.
DO NOT DRIVE IMPAIRED
Drinking and driving -- Alcohol affects a person’s vision and slows reaction time so it takes longer to act in an emergency. Alcohol affects a person’s driving even if they are below the level of illegal intoxication. Drinking even a small amount of alcohol increases the chances of causing a crash.
Medical cannabis (marijuana) and other drugs --
Medical cannabis as well as many prescription and nonprescription drugs can impair safe driving. These include but are not limited to antihistamines, cold remedies, pain relievers, mood-altering drugs, hashish, LSD, heroin, cocaine, morphine, amphetamines (pep pills) and methamphetamines. Mixing even small amounts of alcohol with other drugs is extremely dangerous. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in Illinois if a person’s BAC is .08 or more or if a cannabis THC level of five nanograms or more per milliliter of whole blood or 10 nanograms per milliliter of other bodily substance or any trace of a controlled drug, substance or intoxicating compounds is in the driver’s blood.
CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY
The Child Passenger Protection Act requires all children under age 8 be properly secured in an appropriate child safety restraint system. This includes the use of booster seats, which must only be used with a lap/shoulder safety belt. If the back seat of the vehicle is not equipped with lap/shoulder type safety belts, a child weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat without a booster seat and secured with a lap belt only. All persons over age 8 are required by law to wear safety belts. For their ultimate safety, it is recommended that all children ride in the back seat. For more information on child passenger safety, visit ilsos.gov or call 866-247-0213.
AVOID AGGRESSIVE DRIVING
Aggressive driving is the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property. A driver doing any of the following may be committing acts of aggressive driving and pose the risk of a crash:
Speeding
Running red lights and stop signs
Tailgating
Passing on the should of the road
Cutting off another vehicle
Slamming on brakes in front of a tailgater
Improper hand gestures at other drivers
Yelling
Repeatedly honking the horn or flashing the headlights
If drivers encounter an angry or aggressive driver, they should:
Not retailiate or in any way engage the other driver
Not make eye contact
Keep the doors locked and windows up
Keep enough space between themselves and the vehicle in front to pull out from behind
Not underestimate a driver's potential for aggression
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Office: 708.458.3388
police@bedfordparkpd.com
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