Read more: Local, State, Crime, Automotive, Health, Road Construction, Work Zone, Speeding, Texting and Driving, Illinois State Police, Safe Family
ADAMS COUNTY, ILL. -- "It really is like playing Russian Roulette with another weapon," says Trooper Mike Kindhart.
That weapon is your eight thousand pound car, and as you know it can be deadly if it's used carelessly.
Perhaps one of the most important places you need to pay attention is in a construction zone.
Lately, that's been an issue because there's a lot of construction going on in the Tri-States.
And in Illinois, there are some new laws on the books you need to be aware of.
Here's a breakdown of them in this KHQA Safe Family report.
"We're probably issuing two to three citations for speeding everyday in the construction zone," says Trooper Mike Kindhart.
Trooper Mike Kindhart tells KHQA an officer is posted on Interstate 172 ten hours a day. You may think that's a low number, but Kindhart says when people see the marked squad car, they immediatley slow down.
"From what we're hearing, with guys in the work zone, especially flaggers, they see a lot more of those violations than we are," says Kindhart.
And the violations are more than just speeding.
"People doing their hair, makeup, speeding. A lot of people on cell phones, laptops. A lot of them unaware," says construction worker Lee Liehr.
Remember, it's illegal in Illinois to talk on a cell phone while driving through a construction or school zone.
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Let me put this into perspective. A flagger recently told Trooper Mike Kindhart that he counted 46 people using a cell phone within an hour and a half time period.
"We've got too many people occupied with everything but driving," says Liehr.
"It is legal to talk on a handsfree in the school zone and construction zone. It has to be completely hands free," says Kindhart.
Which means no speaker phones. And remember drivers under the age of 19 are not allowed to use the cell phone at all. Trooper Kindhart reminds everyone to focus on the task at hand, and that's driving. He says it only takes a second for your life or someone else's to change forever.
Also remember Scott's Law in Illinois.
That law requires you to pull into another lane and slow down when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road.
The way the law is written, you need to follow the law for other vehicles too.
"Anyone that has red, blue, or amber rotating or flashing lights. You also have your electric people, tow trucks, construction people," says Trooper Mike Kindhart.
Remember, it's also against the law to text while driving in Illinois.
