A MAJOR US city is cracking down on a harmful driving practice that puts passengers and pedestrians at risk.
Airport drivers have saved money by parking on the side of the highway – the local government wants this to stop immediately.
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JB Pritzker, governor of Chicago, Illinois, will be tasked with signing HB 5408 – a new law that would heavily penalize drivers who park along the shoulder of the highway connecting to O’Hare Airport.
For too long, authorities say, drivers have parked along the shoulder to load and unload passengers, avoiding traffic and potential terminal entry fees.
Senate President Don Harmon said the practice was too “dangerous” to happen near one of the country’s busiest airports.
“O’Hare is one of the busiest airports in the country,” he wrote in a statement, as cited by the ABC affiliate. WLS-TV.
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“With thousands of cars passing daily, road obstructions pose a threat to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”
If Pritzker signs the bill into law, the campaign would also require the Illinois Toll Authority to install traffic cameras along the highway within a half-mile radius.
Part of the law’s language allows the agency to use the footage to quote drivers $100 and send it to the vehicle’s registered address.
“This initiative is a proactive measure to ensure the safety of drivers on 190 and I-90 near the entrance to O’Hare Airport,” said Representative Brad Stephens.
“Numerous drivers have been parking on the shoulders of these roads awaiting the arrival of travelers, rather than using cell phone lots conveniently located within airport property.”
The airport provides free cell phone lots for people to stop and use their phones to make calls and offers free pickup and drop-off at terminals.
The cameras would help allocate airport labor more efficiently and curb the dangerous habit.
“We cannot deploy officers to these areas to address this safety issue as it is not an efficient use of manpower, so I am happy to sponsor this measure in the hope that we have resolved a problem before anyone is injured or killed,” Stephens continuous.
Chicago isn’t the only city dealing with drivers who boldly break the law for the sake of convenience.
Drivers in Orlando, Florida, have lawmakers scrambling to figure out a way to divert them from parking along the shoulder of the highway near Orlando International Airport.
Signs are scattered along the highway, but drivers ignore them and park on the shoulder anyway.
Is it illegal to park on the side of a highway?
According to safety officials, highway shoulders are for emergencies — not convenience.
Also called a “Free Zone” or “Recovery Zone”, it is an “unobstructed and passable roadside area”. The Roadside Design Guide states that it should be used for:
- Stopping safely
- Regain control of the vehicle, in the event of extreme weather conditions, avoiding hitting the rear of the car in front or avoiding hitting the rear, or making repairs with the emergency lights on
- Access for emergency or utility vehicles
When stopped on the shoulder, drivers are required to activate their emergency lights to alert other drivers of a stopped vehicle or use other warning devices such as reflective triangles or flares.
Parking on the shoulder for any reason other than to retrieve or wait for emergency vehicles or utility vehicles in case of an accident or medical emergency makes it difficult for other drivers to use, which is generally illegal.
Source: FMCSA, Department of Transport, Clay Dugas Law
The airport’s lack of enforcement is largely to blame, said retired police chief Orlando Rolon, and authorities should act quickly.
“I think this is something that the Orlando Aviation Authority and the Orlando Police Department must address and respond to,” he told the CBS affiliate. WKMG-TV.
“Unfortunately, sometimes aggressive actions are necessary, whether it’s aggressive enforcement.”
He reinforced that the shoulder is designed so that emergency vehicles can respond to a call without obstructing traffic, and parking on the shoulder puts anyone in need of assistance at risk.
Rolon suggested using cameras along the highway to cite drivers, although no move has been made in that regard.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
