Traffic Services
The Police Traffic Coordinator directs and coordinates traffic safety programs within the Village. Questions or complaints concerning traffic, school crossing guards, preferred walking routes or requests for extended parking permission should be directed to the Traffic Coordinator. The Traffic Coordinator provides information on traffic crash statistics to residents and engineering firms doing business within the Village. The Traffic Coordinator also serves as professional staff on the Transportation Commission and Civics and Safety Committee.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I'm confused. When do I have to stop for a school bus which is unloading children when approaching from the opposite direction?
You are required to stop for a school bus loading or unloading children when: - You are traveling in the same direction as the bus
- You are traveling in the opposite direction on a two lane road.
- Traffic is going very fast on my street, and I'm afraid that my children will get hit by a car while playing in front of my house. I want a stop sign put up to slow the cars down.
- I heard there were new seat belt laws passed in 2001. What are they?
- Children under the age of four years must be secured in an approved child restraint system, more commonly called a child safety seat. Child safety seats include infant seats, convertible seats (rear-facing for infants and forward-facing for toddlers) and booster seats that are used with the vehicle lap and shoulder belt system.
- Children and young people four and up to 16 years of age must be secured in either a child safety seat or seat belt.
- The parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of four years is responsible for providing a child safety seat to anyone who transports his or her child.
- Every person under the age of 18 years who transports a child six years of age or older (up to 18 years) is responsible for securing that child in a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt.
The bus must have its flasher signals activated and stop sign displayed. Persons who commit a violation of this law are subject to a $150 fine and 3 month license suspension.
Contrary to popular beliefs, a stop sign is not a speed control device and the placement of stop signs is controlled by very specific traffic warrants or requirements. These requirements include the volume of traffic, accident history and pedestrian use.
Studies have shown that speed is only affected in the area directly near the stop sign and in fact may increase speed as drivers go faster to make up time having to stop at an unnecessary sign. Also, an improperly placed stop sign may actually increase accidents and give the residents a false sense of security.
We have found that most complaints about speeding autos are actually complaints concerning traffic volume. The Engineering and Police Department along with the Transportation Commission are in the process of developing long term solutions for neighborhood traffic calming. Through the use of traffic calming techniques, traffic can be slowed and the roadway becomes less attractive as a short cut between major roadways.
Child Safety Seat Program
The Wilmette Police Department is dedicated to protecting the child passengers on our roads, and provides two free programs to residents: Child Safety Seat Inspection Program and the Child Safety Seat Loan Program.
Two Wilmette Police Officers, Officers Ron Andrews, Julie Parisi and Jeffery Hemesath, are certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as Child Seat Technicians. Improperly installed child safety seats do not fully protect children from injuries and/or deaths in crashes or in sudden emergency maneuvers. Residents may call Community Service Officer Ron Andrews at 847-853-7567 to schedule a child safety seat inspection.
Residents who will temporarily need child safety seats may take advantage of the Wilmette Police Department's Child Safety Seat Loan Program by contacting Susan Budd, the Secretary to the Chief of Police at 847-853-7553.
For more information on traffic issues in Wilmette, please see the Traffic Safety section of the Police Departments Annual Report. Of particular note, see the statistics on the Top Ten Crash Locations.