The Illinois State Police are working in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation to increase safe driving in work zones with its Hireback program.

Illinois state trooper Jeff Darko said out of work state police officers are hired specifically to monitor construction zones for unsafe drivers.

Matt Vanover, spokesman for IDOT, said any day in Illinois, weather permitting, there are 1,000 construction projects going on.

“If the weather is good, they are going to be out there.”

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is pushing to increase the state fine for speeding in construction zones and double the cost of a reckless driving violation.

The number of work-zone speed-limit violation citations has increased considerably since 2001.

“In 2002, we wrote 14,405 citations and in 2001, we wrote 10,052,” Darko said.

According to state statutes, “No person shall operate a motor vehicle in a construction or maintenance zone at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit when workers are present and so close to the moving traffic that a potential hazard exists because of the motorized traffic.”

Darko said the state police are also working in accordance with IDOT’s Give ’em A Brake campaign, in addition to regular traffic safety efforts.

Though many drivers feel safe driving within 10 miles per hour above the posted speed limit, Darko said any speeding is punishable.

“It is the officer’s discretion to write tickets and warnings even if the driver is going one mile per hour over,” Darko said.

Ticket costs for speeding are $75 for up to 20 mph over the speed limit, $95 for 20-30 mph and $100 and up for 30-40 mph above the posted limit.

Reckless driving is typically a combination of driving hazards, Darko said. However, traveling 40 or more miles per hour above the posted speed limit is considered reckless driving and can entitle arrest, vehicle towing and loss of a driver’s license.

Special factors including work zones, amount of traffic and weather conditions entitle a lower speed limit to drive safely according to conditions, Darko said. Not adjusting to meet those conditions is also a punishable offense

Vanover said cautionary signs are generally placed five miles, three miles and one mile in advance of work areas.

“Drivers should start slowing at the first sign of cautionary signs and should be at or below the posted speed limit when approaching the speed limit sign,” Darko said.

State statutes specify construction zone speed limits will be predetermined by the department, toll highway authority or local agency based on safety, and that lower speed limits must be marked by special speed limit signs.

Those signs “shall give proper due warning that a construction or maintenance zone is being approached and shall indicate the maximum speed limit in effect,” according to Illinois statutes.

“We’ve had 25 people killed so far this year in 20 different accidents in construction and work zones,” Vanover said. “Five workers were killed this year.”

“We’ve had more fatalities to workers this year than in years before.”

Vehicle drivers and passengers accounted for the majority of deaths.

At 2001’s end, 36 deaths occurred in construction zones.

Vanover related construction zone deaths and injuries to a series of factors from inattentiveness to alcohol, drugs and speeding.

Darko said work zone violation fines are double those of typical speeding citations.

“We’re aggressively writing more and more citations in construction zones, trying to get people to slow down,” he said.

Construction zone precautions include following signs as well as taking individual steps to limit driving risks.

Vanover suggested merging as soon as possible when merge signs are posted to avoid last-minute lane changes.

“When entering the construction zone, it is time to focus on driving, not cell phones, radios and talking,” Vanover said.

Those areas pose risks because of large equipment and limited lane sizes.

Vanover said attention needs to be paid to flaggers who mark risky areas for slowing down and stopping.

Signs, billboards and advertisements are part of IDOT’s increasing campaign against careless driving.

“When drivers come to a work zone, they must exercise due caution,” Vanover said. “It’s peoples’ husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers out there working to make roads safer and more efficient for everyone else.”

Darko advised being attentive to all special road conditions and reducing speeds when necessary.

“We find anybody has the opportunity to speed, a lot of times it is people in a rush, who think if they go 10-15 miles per hour over the limit they will get where they are going faster,” Darko said. “Really, they are only shaving a couple minutes off of their time.”

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].