Potholes are more than just a nuisance on the road—they are a serious hazard for drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

In Illinois, where harsh winters and fluctuating temperatures cause frequent road damage, potholes are a common sight. These road defects can lead to flat tires, bent rims, misaligned suspensions, and even dangerous car accidents.

Our cars are probably the biggest mechanical system we use daily and take for granted. As long as you’ve got gas in the tank or a charge on the EV battery, you expect the car to turn on when you start the ignition. What you don’t always think about are your car’s 30,000 parts that need to be in perfect working order for it to start and safely make it from point A to point B.

Obviously, not every one of those 30,000 parts is considered a critical system, but it only takes one defect to trigger a cascade effect that can end in a devastating accident. If that defect can be traced back to the car’s manufacturer or the negligent mechanic who installed it, those parties could be held responsible for the accident. It would be important to know if the accident caused damage or injury to some other driver.

Distracted driving is a big problem in our nation as a whole. While that’s certainly a concern, the rates here in your own proverbial “backyard” in Illinois are what worry you the most since you’re sharing the road with those inattentive motorists day in and out.

When you think of distracted driving, the thought of a motorist talking or texting on their phone may initially come to mind. That also makes sense since you are likely aware that the use of a hand-held cell phone while behind the wheel of a car in our state is illegal.

While Illinois law outlines how motorists can only use cellphones when using voice-activated commands, an earpiece, or a Bluetooth headset, is this the only activity that can distract drivers? No, not at all.

Safe driving means following designed traffic laws on the road. However, some rules can be unclear, especially those concerning lane changes in intersections. Many drivers wonder whether changing lanes in the middle of an intersection is advisable, safe, or even legal.

The truth is that the legality will depend on a combination of your state’s traffic laws, the design and signage of the intersection, and other situational conditions.

Turning left at an intersection, while often a necessary maneuver, is among the most common precursors to a crash at these locations. In a study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), researchers found that making a left turn was the critical pre-crash event — the key factor leading up to the crash — in more than 22% of all crashes at an intersection. This was the single most common factor, with only a vehicle traveling off the road as the pre-crash event coming close to the same frequency.

Making a left turn across oncoming traffic should be a simple, routine maneuver for any driver, but there are several reasons why it’s more complicated and dangerous than it appears at face value. Depending on the intersection, the driver making the turn may need to take into account the speed of oncoming traffic from three different directions, as well as potentially limited visibility in one or more of those directions. In addition, driver frustration often plays a factor in making a rash decision behind the wheel and recklessly taking a left turn when it’s not safe.

The Illinois Secretary of State created hundreds of traffic codes to keep everyone on the road safe. These codes provide a helpful manual for drivers on how to navigate the roads, streets, and highways without being cited for a traffic violation. The codes also help prevent common sideswipe accident scenarios.

Here is what the traffic codes say about lane changes: “A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.”

When you cross over the lane, you run the risk of getting involved in a sideswipe accident. However, not all sideswipe collisions are the same. The following are some of the most common types of sideswipe accidents.

You want to score as many points as possible in baseball, basketball, and football. When it comes to your driver’s license, the last thing you want are points. Those points are issued with a traffic citation. The Illinois Secretary of State has determined the amount of points for each infraction. You can have your license suspended with as little as 15 points. That is equal to driving 11 miles above the speed limit.

Citations are also issued after a traffic accident. Can you get a ticket for an accident that wasn’t your fault? You can, but that doesn’t automatically mean you lose your right to contest the ticket or receive compensation for your losses. It all depends on the circumstances surrounding your accident.

Getting into a car accident can be emotionally jarring. There is also a physiological effect of the accident when your brain releases a jolt of adrenaline, according to the Cleveland Clinic. That hormone is tied to our “fight or flight” impulses. That adrenaline could mask the pain associated with an injury. In other words, you might not feel that you’re hurt until much later when things calm down. It is important to know what the symptoms of a delayed injury after a crash are.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) found that in 2022, 20% of all crashes involving motor vehicles resulted in an injury. That translates into 59,795 people who might have suffered delayed symptoms. Even if you don’t feel any pain after a serious accident, you should still seek medical attention to make sure you haven’t been injured. The following are some of the delayed symptoms you should be on the lookout for after a crash.

To stop on a dime is to come to a stop in a very short distance. Every driver makes several stopping choices with every trip. They bring their vehicle to a halt at a traffic light, an intersection stop sign, and their final destination. The sudden or “surprise” stops can lead to accidents. To prevent that, you want to practice a safe distance between cars while driving.

Why does maintaining a safe distance between cars matter? According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) there were 298,347 motor vehicle collisions in 2022. Maintaining a proper safe distance could have had an impact on bringing down those collision numbers.

Below, we discuss what is a safe distance between cars while driving and highlight different techniques for adequately pacing oneself.

Intersections are where two or more roads intersect. At these locations, vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists cross paths. Unfortunately, intersections are also one of the most common locations for accidents and collisions to occur.

Sometimes, these crashes can lead to severe injuries and even fatalities. Whether you’re a driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian, you must be aware of these areas’ potential dangers.