HJ0008 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0008 LRB097 07206 HEP 47312 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The reaction time of motorists using cellular phones slows dramatically, increasing the risk of automobile accidents and tying up traffic generally; and

WHEREAS, Cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year; and

WHEREAS, The numbers of fatalities and injuries may be higher because data on cell phone use by motorists is limited; and

WHEREAS, Increasing cell phone use can be expected to cause the annual death estimate to rise; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that State, county, and municipal law enforcement personnel are requested to include in their police reports of automobile accidents information pertaining to if an accident involved the use of a cellular phone; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation shall request from State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies statistics on the use of cellular phones leading to automobile accidents over a two-year period beginning January 1, 2012, and report the findings to the General Assembly no later than September 1, 2014; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Department of Transportation and appropriate county and municipal law enforcement agencies.