New Tougher Laws Designed to Make Roads Safer

Jeff Heath, the Illinois Department of Transportation construction worker from downstate Jersey County, was directing traffic nearly two years ago when he was struck and killed by a speeding pickup truck and trailer that lost control. The truck driver was cited for the accident but avoided jail time because he was not charged with reckless homicide with a vehicle. That changes June 1 when “Jeff’s Law” goes into effect. Under the new law, a person is automatically assumed to be driving recklessly if traveling more than 20 mph over the posted speed limit or driving drunk through a school or construction zone. It is one of two new laws to fight both drunken driving and work zone accidents. The second is the interlock DUI law, which begins Jan. 1 and requires some people convicted of their first drunken driving offense to blow into a Breathalyzer device before their car will start.