Governor Quinn Announces Increased Bicycle Safety Reporting

CHICAGO - April 25, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn announced today that the state will begin tracking "dooring" crashes - accidents involving bicyclists who are struck by opened doors from parked cars. The change will take effect immediately to help determine locations where road improvements and public outreach efforts may be necessary to protect bicyclists from these dangerous collisions.

"As more people are riding bicycles and embracing other green modes of transportation, we need to ensure that Illinois collects data that presents a complete picture of what is happening on our roads," said Governor Quinn. "This new initiative will address a major safety issue for bicyclists and drivers, and will make our roads safer for everyone."

The new policy is the result of collaboration between Governor Quinn, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Active Transportation Alliance. Prior to the change in policy, dooring collisions went unrecognized in IDOT's annual reporting of traffic statistics because a moving motor vehicle was not involved.

The data collected and analyzed by IDOT can be used to plan for improved roadway designs and additional communication with motorists in areas with high concentrations of bicyclists.

"We appreciate Governor Quinn's action on this issue," said Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance, an advocacy organization that works to improve conditions for walking, biking and transit. "Data on dooring problem spots will help communities take steps to reduce these collisions. We are grateful IDOT will track these crashes, and look forward to working with them to increase safety and education surrounding dooring."

To assist police in submitting the correct information, IDOT's Division of Traffic Safety is reaching out to law enforcement agencies across the state with instructions on how to begin recording dooring crashes. Police departments that have already have begun tracking dooring collisions, including Chicago, will have their data included in the state's traffic statistics, retroactive to May 2010.

"We are committed to working with our partners in law enforcement to make roads safer for bicyclists," Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said. "Safety always will be a top priority at IDOT. The recognition of dooring accidents is another step in the right direction."