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Despite a relatively mild winter, the number of people dying in crashes in Illinois this year rose by 37 percent as of Tuesday, one reason state authorities urged drivers to take it easy as the construction season starts.
There have been 249 fatal crashes in Illinois so far, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported, with 263 deaths. By April 12, 2015, that number was 192.
Officials at a news conference Tuesday overlooking the Jane Byrne Interchange, which is being rebuilt, repeatedly urged motorists to "don't be that driver," referring to people who speed in work zones or talk and text on devices.
Along with the Jane Byrne Interchange, other major projects this year include work on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the extension of the Elgin O'Hare Expressway/Route 390.
"Drivers should be prepared for sudden stops, changing traffic patterns, rougher surfaces, uneven pavements and slower speeds," tollway Chief of Staff Mike Stone said. "Drivers also should be alert as they may encounter workers near the roadway or large construction equipment entering or leaving the roadway." Authorities could not account for the jump in fatalities, although some experts have suggested a recovering economy is putting more drivers on the road.
Do you know the construction zone traffic laws? Here are some questions from an IDOT quiz.
1. How much is the fine for speeding if it's a first offense in a work zone? (a) $250, (b) $75, (c) $375, or (d) $125
2. About 90 percent of work zone fatalities are motorists. True or false?
3. Work zone speed limits should be obeyed: (a) only when workers are present, (b) 24 hours a day, where posted, (c) only during the daytime, or (d) none of the above
4. One of the most common crashes in a work zone is: (a) rear-end, (b) hitting a barrier wall, (c) running off the road, or (d) head-on
5. The penalty for hitting a worker in a work zone is: (a) $1,000, (b) $7,500, (c) $2,000 and five years in prison, or (d) $10,000 and 14 years in prison.
Answers
1. C
2. True
3. B
4. A
5. D