The Illinois State Police says its cars have been hit 14 times this year — more than in each of the previous three years in their entirety.
Brendan Kelly, acting director of the state police, says impaired and distracted drivers are to blame.
“We’ve looked at every variable — time, date, location, weather — and there’s no common denominator,” Kelly said Tuesday. “Just troopers doing their job, and impaired or distracted drivers who simply don’t care about the troopers safety, the safety of others, or their own safety.”
Kelly says police are already increasing enforcement of the state’s move-over law, also known as Scott's Law.
“If you see an emergency vehicle with their lights activated — whether they are handling a crash on the shoulder, assisting a disabled vehicle in the lane of traffic, or making an arrest — please slow down and move over,” Kelly said.
Kelly says injuries have ranged from cuts to concussions and broken bones. In January, Trooper Christopher Lambert was struck and killed.
