New Illinois traffic laws began Jan. 1
Three pieces of legislation supported by the Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT, aimed at reducing cell phone use while driving and clearing lanes of traffic immediately following crashes went into effect Jan. 1.
Senate Bill 2488 prohibits cell phone use in construction or maintenance speed zones regardless of the speed limit in those zones.
Motorists can use cell phones in voice-operated mode, which includes the use of a headset or cell phones used with single button activation.
House Bill 5101 prohibits texting or using a hand-held cell phone while driving a commercial motor vehicle and makes this a serious traffic violation.
Previously, Illinois law prohibited texting while driving for all vehicles, but cell phones were permitted.
Senate Bill 3409 allows the driver of a vehicle involved in a motor vehicle crash resulting only in damage to a vehicle to move the vehicle off the highway to the nearest safe location.