An Arlington Heights man was killed today as he walked through a commercial strip near his home. Arthur Tidd was a pedestrian walking across Algonquin road when he was struck by a Jeep Wrangler. The driver stopped after the accident. Rolling Meadows paramedics took Mr. Tidd to Northwest Community Hospital where he died a short time later.
Texting While Driving More Dangerous Than Drugs Or Alcohol
Researchers from the Transport Research Laboratory report that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis.
Drivers reaction time slowed 35% when they were writing or reading text messages while driving. In comparison, reaction time slowed by 21% for those smoking cannabis and 12% for those at the legal limit of alcohol the study found. The study also found that steering control worsened 91% for texters compared with 35% for cannabis smokers.
Pit Bulls Maul a Six-Year-Old Boy in Chicago
Three pit bulls mauled a 6-year-old boy in Chicago on Friday according to an article written by Tina Fondeles, a staff reporter of Chicago Suntimes. Chicago police officers shot two of the pit bulls but the third one escaped. The child was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition. The dog owner was questioned by Chicago police.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites each year. Half of the victims are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates in children are significantly higher for boys than for girl.
CDC has published a study on fatal dog bites, which lists the breeds involved in fatal attacks over 20 years Download file
Chicago Alderman Proposing Fine For Texting While Driving
Chicago Alderman Edward Burke is proposing a $75.00 fine for texting while driving in the city. Despite the obvious dangers inherent in texting while driving, currently only five states ban it: Alaska, Washington, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
Waukegan Woman Attacked By Pit Bulls
A Waukegan woman was attacked by three pit bulls on Thursday afternoon. Kiara Lynn was attacked by the dogs as she walked to a gas station with a friend. The pit bulls ripped part of her ear off and chewed up her arms and legs. Ms. Lynn is recovering from her injuries at Vista Medical Center East.
As of Friday, the dogs have yet to be turned over to Waukegan Animal Control.
Chicago Considers Ban on Texting While Driving
Chicago Alderman are considering passing a law prohibiting drivers from text messaging or surfing the internet while driving on Chicago streets. The proposal is backed by Mayor Richard Daley.
Woman Dies After Car Struck By Truck In Dolton
A woman was killed in Dolton, Illinois near the Bishop Ford Freeway in a trucking accident when her car was struck by a Mack Truck.
The woman, Zina Kidd, was attempting to make a left turn when her vehicle was struck. The driver of the truck was given a ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid another vehicle.
Young Boy Bit By Pit Bull in Chicago
A four year old boy was bit by a pit bull in his own backyard and is in critical condition the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.
The boy was in his own back yard at 3500 block of West Cortland when a pit bull that was being kept in the same building as where he lived attacked him.
The boy was listed in critical condition at Memorial Hospital.
71 Pedestrians Killed Each Year In Chicago
71 pedestrians are killed and 930 are seriously injured every year in Chicago according to a Chicago Suntimes article published today. Nearly one-third of the pedestrian accidents are hit-and-runs.
Anyone who lives in Chicago knows that drivers do not stop at crosswalks in Chicago like they do in other cities. For example, on trips to Santa Fe, Sarasota, and Salt Lake City, I was surprised that drivers actually stop for pedestrians waiting at cross-walks in those cities.
The city of Chicago has been trying to step-up enforcement by operating stings this June in which undercover officers pretend to be a pedestrian using the crosswalk. The police issued 101 warnings to drivers who failed to yield to pedestrians in less than two hours. What is ironic about the Chicago Police trying to enforce laws requiring drivers to yield is that Chicago Police in squad cars almost never yield for pedestrians waiting at cross-walks. Maybe the Chicago Police should lead by example.
Bicyclist Deaths Raise Safety Concerns
Anyone who drives in Chicago probably has noticed that there are more bicyclists sharing the roadway with automobiles than ever before. Unfortunately, there seem to also be more bicyclist accidents than ever before. One cannot help to be moved by the white painted bicycles that stand as memorials at the sites where bicyclists have been killed in an accident.
Safety measures need to be taken by both bicyclists and car drivers alike to avoid accidents. A few common sense recommendations for bicyclists are:
– Obey traffic rules