Illinois Ranks as One of the Safest States, but Still Needs Improvement

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Car Accidents

Every year, over 40 million people are injured and 146,000 people are killed in accidents that could have been prevented, according to data from the National Safety Council (NSC). The NSC notes that these numbers are on the rise, with deaths from car accidents, poisoning, drowning, choking, falls, and fires having increased 7 percent since 2014.

The NSC recently released its State of Safety report for 2017, looking at each state in the United States and giving them grades for safety on the road, in the home, in the workplace, and in the community. Illinois ranked second in overall safety, but it received a “B” grade, since the NSC noted several areas in which safety could be improved.

Road Safety

Traffic safety was one of the key focuses of the NSC’s report, as over 40,000 people died while on the road in 2016. While Illinois ranks #1 in road safety, the state still saw 1,108 fatalities in 2016, and the report noted several areas in which safety could be improved, including:

• Child passengers - Illinois does not currently require children to remain in a rear-facing car seat until they are two years old, and it does not require the use of child restraints or booster seats until age eight. While the state does have a law that addresses children being left in hot cars, it does not have a “Good Samaritan” law that protects people who provide assistance to children in unattended vehicles.

• Seat belts - While Illinois law does require all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, it does not require seat belts on school buses.

• Teen drivers - Illinois meets the NSC’s recommendations for requiring at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving for new drivers. However, the state does not have the recommended restrictions against teens driving with young passengers, which can increase teens’ risk of accidents by 44 percent, and it only partially meets the recommendations for restrictions against teens driving at night.

• Other Protections - Illinois does not require motorcycle drivers to wear helmets, and it does not require bicycle helmets for all young riders.

Home, Community, and Workplace Safety

While Illinois ranks #1 in workplace safety (including providing workers’ compensation benefits), it is ranked lower in home and community safety. The NSC noted several areas where there is room for improvement, including:

• Home fires - Illinois does not meet the NSC’s recommendations for requiring sprinkler systems in newly built homes or smoke detectors with batteries that last for 10 years.

• Drug overdoses - Illinois does not have several recommended programs in place that could reduce opioid abuse, including education for prescribers, regulation of pain management services, and prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) consultations for first-time opioid prescriptions.

Contact a Lake County Accident Injury Lawyer

Based on the NSC’s report, Illinois is one of the safest states in the country, but there is still quite a bit of room for improvement. Notably, no state received an “A” grade, and the NSC believes that every state fails to meet the standards that could prevent accidental deaths.

No matter how safe your environment, accidents happen, whether you are on the road, at home, at work, or elsewhere in your community. If you are involved in an accident and suffer an injury, you should contact an attorney at Salvi & Maher, LLP as soon as possible. We will help you pursue the financial compensation that will address your needs and allow you to get your life back on track. Contact our Waukegan personal injury attorneys at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article158576619.html

http://www.nsc.org/Pages/State-of-Safety.aspx