Route 47 in Sugar Grove targeted for traffic safety
A special traffic safety enforcement and education campaign conducted in September on Route 47 in Sugar Grove resulted in 425 citations including 182 for speeding and 269 written warnings, according to police officials.
The campaign was tied to requests by Waubonsee Community College to get a traffic signal at its northern entrance, where two students died in a crash this spring, and to see if the 55 mph speed limit near the college should be lowered.
“We're very surprised too (by the number of speeders). There are obvious issues out there that need to be addressed, Illinois State Police Lt. Brian Windle said.
The campaign was conducted by the state police, Kane County Sheriff's Department, and the Sugar Grove and Waubonsee police departments.
The traffic safety campaign covered an approximate 5½-mile stretch of Route 47 from Route 30 in Sugar Grove to Main Street in Blackberry Township. WCC is located along that corridor. It was announced in September the campus will get a traffic signal at its north entrance where the students were killed while making a left turn onto the campus.
Besides enforcing laws, officers made a presentation on traffic safety to Waubonsee students, and handed out more than 1,400 pamphlets about distracted driving and seat belt safety at both entrances to the college, Windle said.
In the last decade, WCC has twice asked the Illinois Department of Transportation to review the speed limit on Route 47. Both times, IDOT has told the college the current speed is appropriate.
Some results from the campaign:
• Citations issued: 425
• Written warnings: 269
• Speeding citations: 182
• Seat belt/child restraint citations: 90
• Invalid, suspended or revoked driver's license citations: 10
• Operation of uninsured motor vehicle citations: 21
• Texting while driving citations: 5
• Motorists assisted: 12
• Arrests: 4
• Scott's Law citations: 1
• Motor carrier inspections: 51
• Vehicles taken out of service: 43
• Overweight truck citations: 12