Safety technology that is designed to help eliminate driver errors that are a major cause of accidents in Illinois and across the country is fast becoming a reality. Automakers are rolling out smarter cars that can not only detect pedestrians, cyclists and other traffic but that can also steer clear of an impending collision and even hit the brakes when an impact is imminent. At the same time, however, there is concern that the age group that might most benefit from these advances will not trust the technology enough to take full advantage of all that it may have to offer.
Traffic deaths went up in 2015
With lower gas prices and higher job growth in 2015, more Illinois residents had the money to take car trips. The increase in vehicle miles traveled in 2015 is one of the factors that might have led to an increase in traffic deaths around the country. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there was a 7.2 percent jump in traffic deaths from 2014 to 2015.
