An Illinois lawmaker has proposed a crackdown for speeding drivers on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, but the potential solution has drawn mixed reaction from drivers.
The proposed change would use AI cameras down the busy stretch of roadway in the city, which would alert both speeding and reckless drivers.
State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz said she has pushed for such a change to make Lake Shore Drive safer after hearing concerns from her constituents.
"Forever legislators who represent the lakefront have been hearing about noise, have been hearing about speed, have been hearing about crashes and deaths they’ve witnessed and it’s our responsibility to come up with an equitable solution and utilize technology that’s out here which is the goal of this amended bill," she said.
City data shows there have been 16,000 crashes on Lake Shore Drive in the last five years. In those, 4,000 people were injured and 59 have died.
"Lake Shore Drive is its own animal," Feigenholtz, who represents Illinois' 6th District, told NBC Chicago. "What we’re doing is we’re trying to figure out what tools we could use to change driving behavior."
Under her proposal, Feigenholtz wants to amend Illinois Vehicle Code to commission the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago to conduct a study looking at traffic data, the effectiveness of cameras and where to install them. That would include using AI to reduce crashes.
Chicago Politics
"It doesn’t just capture speed it captures other reckless driving habits and when it sends out a warning in Europe it really did change behaviors because it was unpredictable," Feigenholtz said. "Eighty percent of the people that got that warning never re-offended."
Under the AI camera model, the senator said drivers would receive a warning in the mail, but not a ticket.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter.
"I know that a lot of folks have been talking about how much revenue it’s bringing in not interested in that," she said. "What I’m interested in is changing reckless driving behaviors."
The idea, however, has drawn mixed reaction from drivers.
"It is getting bad there so I don’t mind having cameras. I think it's a good idea," said resident Michael Peterfi.
Another resident, Kareon Howard, said he's seen drivers doing 80 or 90 mph down the stretch of road, so "it does make sense a little bit."
But others question the invasion of privacy.
"AI everywhere feels a little bit scary," Tiffany Ivonne, a Chicago resident, said.
"While the motive is intended for good purposes right I’m not sure the outcome will actually be what they hope and intend for," another resident Jenifer Clark said.
The senate bill to commission the study still needs to pass out of committee before going to the senate floor for a debate.
Feigenholtz said she hopes to have the study completed within six months if approved.
