In the wake of 3 Illinois State Trooper fatalities in the first 3 months of the year, State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) passed legislation to require the Secretary of State to remind and test drivers on Scott’s Law, which requires people to slow down, move over and change lanes if possible when approaching emergency vehicles. The Senator noted that 16 Illinois State Police Troopers have been hit this year, with three fatalities.
“First responders have an extremely dangerous job,” said Rose. “Motorists need to pull over and give them room. It’s the law and we need to do everything we can to make sure drivers understand this.”
Rose’s legislation, Senate Bill 947, has a simple concept. It would require the Secretary of State to include a reminder about Scott’s Law in each registration renewal notice, and to add a question about the law to the driver’s exam.
“Pulling over and slowing down for emergency service personnel needs to be top of mind at all times,” said Rose. “We all know accidents happen, but it is incumbent upon each of us to slow down and pull over whenever possible.”
The legislation is now headed to the Illinois House for consideration in that chamber.