Illinois and Missouri Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

A southern Illinois radio station is reporting that yet another Tesla car that was being driven in Autopilot mode has crashed. This time, the Tesla slammed into a parked police car, WJBD of Salem says.

This crash goes onto the growing list of motor vehicle accidents involving Teslas on Autopilot.

Ask anyone in our region and they will be happy that spring weather has finally arrived. Temperatures in the mid 50’s in the morning and mid 60’s in the evening hours are ideal conditions for taking a walk, whether it is to venture to a favorite café or to catch a baseball game.

With additional people on the streets comes the possibility of additional pedestrian accidents. In fact, an NPR report from February highlights a disturbing trend. Pedestrian accidents remain at a 25 year high. Even with new safety features that protect drivers and passengers, pedestrians may not see the same benefits.

A proposal in the Missouri House of Representatives has reignited a fight with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The organization has in the past battled an effort to defund the state’s DUI checkpoints and the group is ready to do it again.

Proponents of the checkpoints say that cops not only catch drunk drivers at the checkpoints, but that the locations also provide disincentives for those who might want to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming alcohol.

When you see the orange cones and signs on the road, you probably think of how inconvenient your trip will now be. Speeds are slower, lanes are closed and detours may be necessary during road construction. The upside is that hopefully the roads will better afterward.

In the meantime, you need to follow all traffic laws in construction zones. The reason is for more than just avoiding a ticket with double fines or hitting a construction worker. Your own safety is at risk, too, with all the above factors affecting how other motorists are driving and exposing you to large construction machinery.

• Slow down: No matter how painful it is to lower your speed, slowing down is the safest thing for everyone involved. It is easier to stop quickly and avoid hazards when you are going slowly.
• Give room: You may want to get through the work zone as quickly as possible, but allow for enough room between you and other drivers, as well as construction workers and equipment. Creating more distance can help prevent an accident.
• Focus on driving: For the moment, forget about finding your favorite music station, taking a sip of water or answering a phone call with your hands-free device. Put all your attention on the road, signs and flaggers.
• Merge early: Avoid the temptation to wait until the last minute to merge into a lane in order to get ahead. It is not only courteous but also safer to merge early.
• Have patience: It is easy to get frustrated under the circumstances or experience road rage with other motorists' bad driving. Responding in anger only makes things worse. Try to be patient and positive. Deep breathing can help you calm your emotions.
• Use safety features: Wear your seat belt and use your headlights to increase visibility.