If you get into an accident caused by an at-fault driver here in Illinois, under state law, that person must have liability insurance to pay your claim for damages and injuries. But what happens if they don't have even the bare minimum of liability insurance?
NSF on drowsy driving and its dangers
The National Sleep Foundation has scheduled its annual Drowsy Driving Prevention Week for Nov. 1 to 8, 2020. Residents of Illinois should already know just how dangerous drowsy driving can be. Drowsy drivers triple their chances of a car crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some 328,000 crashes occur every year in the U.S. because of drowsy driving. An estimated 6,400 of these crashes are fatal.
Unequal pay at work remains a major concern
News reports in Illinois and across the country have drawn attention to ongoing issues with sexual harassment and workplace discrimination, and women workers continue to report significant concerns about bias on the job. According to one study of 1,000 American workers, there are a number of concerns about gender discrimination, including the gender pay gap, female representation at higher executive levels and parental leave for both women and men. Around one-fifth of respondents said that the gender pay gap continues to be their most serious concern, even though unequal pay for women and men has long been unlawful.
Discrimination is a barrier for women in STEM
Many programs in Illinois and across the country aim to increase the number of women involved in STEM careers, those related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Some estimates say that corporate productivity and the national GDP could face a significant boost if the gender gap is closed in these areas. However, there are a number of complex reasons why women may be more or less likely to pursue a STEM career or to leave that employment path after initially obtaining their degree. Employment discrimination and sexual harassment on the job are two of these factors that can push women outside the tech industry.
Truckers under 21 may start interstate travel if new bill passes
Illinois residents should know that the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety held a hearing in February 2020 regarding a bill that could cause a significant change in the trucking industry. Known as the DRIVE-Safe Act, the bipartisan bill proposes to allow interstate travel to truckers under the age of 21. Currently, all states except Hawaii allow drivers as young as 18 to obtain a CMV license for intrastate travel.
