On a national scale, statistics compiled by Illinois’ renowned safety advocates at the National Safety Council (NSC) warn that the 2020 death rate on America’s roads “spiked 24% over the previous 12-month period, despite miles driven dropping 13%” with this fatality rate being the “…highest estimated year-over-year jump that NSC has calculated since 1924 – 96 years.”
Despite the quarantine and stay-at-home orders of the unprecedented Coronavirus Pandemic, traffic accident deaths skyrocketed in 2020 at a historically fast pace.
For more, read: “The Emptier Roads of 2020 Were More Lethal,” written by Laura Bliss and published by Bloomberg on March 9, 2021.
Data Reveals the Peril of Death in Chicago Traffic Accident
Narrowing the focus from a country-wide scope to the Chicago metropolis, the statistics become even more sobering. During the past year in the Windy City, the risk of a fatal traffic accident almost doubled.
It is reported the State of Illinois saw a sixteen percent (16%) increase in traffic deaths last year. However, the City of Chicago alone suffered a 45% rise in reported traffic fatalities according to 2020 data compiled by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT).
For more, read “Chicago traffic deaths were up 45% last year as speeding increased during COVID,” written by John Greenfield and published by Streetsblog on February 9, 2021.
The Risk Facing Chicago’s Drivers, Passengers, Bicyclists
Within these traffic fatality statistics, different types of accidents and details on the victims have also been tabulated. According to CDOT data, as reported by Streetsblog, there was a seventy-seven percent (77%) increase in motor vehicle drivers and passengers being killed in motor vehicle accidents within the city limits of the City of Chicago.
Pedestrians and bicyclists in Chicago were also in great danger of being killed in a traffic collision in 2020. While pedestrians are at risk of a serious or fatal injury in a traffic collision in Chicago, those opting to ride a bicycle are facing an incredibly high danger of dying in a roadway crash.
Last year, CDOT reported more cyclists were killed in on-street accidents than in the past ten years. There was a reported 125% jump in bicyclist traffic deaths in Chicago in 2020 as compared to 2019.
For more, read:
Vision Zero Chicago
In 2017, Chicago Mayor Raul Emanuel introduced a three-year “Vision Zero Chicago” plan to combat the tragedy of fatal traffic accidents in the city. Mayor Lori Lightfoot continues the Vision Zero Chicago plan today, with efforts targeting the plan’s identified 43 “High Crash Corridors” and eight “High Crash Areas” in Chicago.
Under Mayor Lightfoot, $49 Million will be provided over a two-year time span to improve “… traffic safety for all users of the right-of-way, particularly those who are most vulnerable, such as people walking, riding bikes and accessing transit.” This includes $10 Million for pedestrian safety treatments; $17 Million for expanded and upgraded bike facilities; and $10 Million for expanding Chicago’s transit system, upgrading station-area and bus stops.
Additionally, Chicago is working towards:
- lowering street speed limits;
- reducing roadway lanes dedicated to motor vehicles;
- investing in rapid delivery infrastructure projects; and
- using automated speed enforcement to deter speeding (go here to see the current online map of Chicago red light cameras).
The City’s perspective aligns with that of safety agencies and advocates for motor vehicle accident victims in the State of Illinois that all fatal traffic collisions are preventable accidents where the tragedy need not have occurred and with proper precautions, could have been avoided.
From the Vision Zero Chicago website:
Vision Zero Chicago (VZC) is the commitment and approach to eliminating fatalities and serious injuries from traffic crashes.
The City of Chicago believes that even one life lost in a traffic crash is unacceptable. We all have the right to walk, bike, take public transit, and drive on streets that are safe for everyone, regardless of who we are or where we live.
Vision Zero brings together the policies, partnerships, and technologies that prevent death and serious injury from traffic crashes. Traffic crashes are not “accidents.” We acknowledge that traffic deaths are preventable and unacceptable and commit to using all available tools to influence the conditions and behaviors that lead to serious crashes.
Justice for Victims of Fatal Chicago Accidents
COVID-19 changed our lives, and continues to do so. As more and more people are returning to work and school this year, there is more traffic on the nation’s roads and of course, on Chicago’s streets. However, observations are that things are moving differently in Chicago now than in year’s past. How that will impact future traffic fatality statistics remains to be seen.
Read, “Chicago traffic patterns, public transit ridership changes as people go back to work,” by Ravi Baichwal and published by ABC-7 on June 7, 2021.
However, based upon the latest reports on the dangers facing those on Chicago’s roadways, the risk remains unacceptably high for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Those that are seriously injured or killed in a Chicago motor vehicle accident will be offered avenues for justice under the state laws of Illinois based upon things like negligence, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation.
For more on accident injury claims for Chicago car accidents, read:
- Lyft Accidents in Chicago: Liability for Ridesharing Car Crash Injuries
- Chicago Uber and Lyft Ridesharing Accident Cases are Different from Other Illinois Motor Vehicle Accident Claims
- Red-Light Cameras and Rear-End Crashes: Chicago Debate
- Fatal Accidents and Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Indiana and Illinois
Chicagoans deserve to be safe as they drive, walk, or bike but today’s reality is that they are facing a very real danger of a fatal traffic collision. Please be careful out there!
