The Illinois Department of Transportation is beginning to enforce what is being known as “Scott’s Law” to ensure safety for road construction workers, said Mike Monseur, deputy director of public affairs for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The legislation is named for Scott Gillen, a Chicago firefighter who was struck by an alleged drunk driver and killed while he was putting his gear in his vehicle after assisting with an automobile accident, Monseur said.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has noticed an increase in such accidents in recent years and is implementing this new law to put a stop to it. The law would provide for a $10,000 fine and suspension of a person’s drivers license for anyone injuring or killing an emergency worker or highway worker while the worker is working on a roadway.

If the offense is severe enough, jail time also is a possible punishment, Monseur said.

In the year 2000, 37 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries occurred as a result of work zone crashes in Illinois, said Illinois Transportation Deputy Secretary Rob Newbold in a press release.

“Too often, high speeds and inattentiveness cause accidents or injuries to workers who are performing their jobs on or near roadways. As responsible citizens, we must slow down and take caution when approaching scenes and work zones in order to prevent future tragedies,” Newbold said.