Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
The Obama administration will be throwing out a bunch of regulations regarding traffic signs. Junking these regulations is aimed at helping state governments that are running low on cash. Meanwhile, Congress is being urged to provide continuity for road construction projects nationwide by not holding up funding.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation is considering a rule to allow communities to replace street signs as they wear, rather than mandating a deadline for periodic replacements. The new changes could potentially toss out more than 45 federal traffic control regulations.The replacement of traffic signs and other traffic-control devices is meant to help prevent car accidents in Illinois and elsewhere throughout the country. State and local governments are held responsible for keeping roads in effective working order. Inoperable street devices and worn signs increase the risk for accidents.
Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand there are many possible causes for an accident. Inoperable or missing street signs or signals, defective roads, missing guardrail and overgrown vegetation are just a few of the common causes. An attorney can help you to analyze all aspects of your accident to ensure that all parties are held responsible for the damages.
At the beginning of the year, Obama requested that the government reexamine the regulations that are currently in effect. The goal of the reexamination was to help point out rules and regulations that could be changed or removed because they were out-of-date, unnecessary, too costly or burdensome.
“A specific deadline for replacing street signs makes no sense and would have cost communities across America millions of dollars in unnecessary expenses,” said LaHood.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) came up with idea to create a deadline for the replacement of these traffic and street signs. The devices regulated under this deadline include traffic signals, streets signs and markings on roadway pavement. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been publishing the manual since 1971. Updates are made periodically to help to accommodate new transportation needs and to address the ever-changing safety technologies, traffic management techniques and traffic control tools.
According to FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez, local governments after better judges than federal agents in determining when these devices need to be replaced. The new regulations aim to put that responsibility with the state and local governments to help them to better disperse tax dollars.
With this responsibility lying in the hands of our government officials, it will be their duty to make sure that these devices are being properly maintained. Traffic accidents can be caused by a number of conditions in addition to road signs. They can also be caused by road conditions and construction. If you’ve been involved in an accident, contact an attorney to help you to assess the situation and determine who is truly at fault.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, the Chicago personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes can offer you a free consultation to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.
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