Daily Herald opinion: Greater commitment needed to stop illegal shoulder parking near O'Hare

You're dashing off to the airport to pick up out-of-town family members or catch a flight yourself when you spot something as predictable as your Thanksgiving Day menu but a lot less appealing - the sight of car after car parked on the expressway shoulder just as you approach O'Hare.

Annoying, right?

Actually, it's more than that: It's illegal and it's dangerous.

Reader Martin Rothenberg of Mundelein reached out to transportation writer Marni Pyke to point out the problem, she reported in her In Transit column on Monday.

"I was amazed at the high number of cars that are always stopped on the side of the I-294/I-190 roadway and ramps approaching O'Hare in spite of the 'No parking, stopping, standing' signs," Rothenberg emailed.

"Is anything being done to address the safety issues?" Rothenberg asked Pyke.

It's a great question, and Illinois State Police in this area see the problem firsthand.

State Trooper Melissa Albert-Lopez acknowledges the danger, especially when illegally stopped drivers then try to dart out in front of cars driving in legal expressway lanes.

She told Pyke that officers monitor the trouble spot daily, giving out warnings and citations.

And ISP said it will increase patrols as the holidays draw closer and traffic to the airport increases.

Those extra patrols and enforcement efforts are sorely needed. Perhaps a ticket will get drivers to think twice before pulling over and pulling out their phones to scroll Facebook while they wait for that "I've landed" text or call.

But also needed is a commitment among drivers to prioritize safety over convenience.

Clearly, signage is present - and easily visible - so it's hard to claim people camped out there don't know better. And it's not like parking on the shoulder is the only option for drivers waiting to pick up friends or family.

O'Hare has a free cellphone lot with posted arrival times at 560 N. Bessie Coleman Drive and a free Kiss n' Fly location at the Multi-Modal Facility, for starters.

The airport also offers pickup and drop-off at terminals, plus $3 an hour parking.

And if drivers would rather wait off airport grounds, they can grab a cup of coffee at a nearby fast-food restaurant and take a moment to relax before heading into the chaos of O'Hare.

Remember, the only exception to the no-parking prohibition is an emergency.

And, sorry, getting your mother-in-law home to start the stuffing doesn't qualify.