Pedestrian safety remains a hot topic. Nearly everyone expresses concern about safety at pedestrian crosswalks. In Illinois, more than 6,000 pedestrians are struck by vehicles each year. Pedestrian safety on roads is therefore not surprisingly the object of in-depth study.

Throughout Illinois, organizations, citizens, and law makers pushed to have HB-43 made into law. HB-43 is a bill that amends current Illinois law. Drivers must now "stop for" instead of "yield to" pedestrians in a crosswalk. The House passed the bill last year and on Thursday, April 29, so did the Senate. Next stop is Governor Quinn, for signature.

Once signed into law, drivers will be required to come to a complete stop for all pedestrians and bicyclists in every type of crosswalk. The law clearly intends such cautious stopping at all types of crosswalks, both unmarked and marked (those with a stop sign, traffic signals, or other signage).

This law has been two years in the making. The victory of its passing could not have occurred without the support of Evanston citizens' phone calls and e-mails to state representatives and senators, asking that they support of this important and live-saving bill.