According to the State of Illinois, the state animal is the ‘White Tail Deer.’ But, here in Wonder Lake, we know better. We know that the state animal is the road construction sign. Seen most often in the spring, summer and fall, the road construction sign is found out and about foraging for frustrated drivers on Illinois roads.

You will usually spot the road construction sign near some of their brothers and sisters – orange-and-white-striped road cones. Sometimes, you’ll see them near their one-legged brethren, the caution sign that is propped up by a road construction flagger. 

Throughout the state and beyond, as well as in Wonder Lake, you’ll find the road construction flagger accompanied by road construction workers and their assorted road construction machinery. 

Inevitably, these indicators of road construction specify that drivers slow down and use the greatest possible caution as they drive. This is because none of us want road construction workers, or flaggers, to be hit by passing vehicles.

If you ask anyone who has ever hit a white tail deer with their car, they’ll tell you how much damage it can do to your vehicle. Drivers and passengers are often hurt in these collisions but, whether they are or not, it’s quite possible that repairs to a vehicle will be extensive.

The State of Illinois has gone out of its way to ensure that striking a road construction worker or flagger is ALWAYS extremely costly. In Illinois, the fine for hitting a construction worker is $25,000 and the driver can also face up to 14 years in prison. But even if you don’t hit a construction worker, failing to adhere to construction speed limits can result in costly tickets.

Beyond speed restrictions, the Illinois Department of Transportation insists that you otherwise drive with caution near construction zones. DO NOT use a cell phone near a construction zone. You can receive an expensive ticket for doing so.

You need to abide by the road construction signs, including that one-legged sign propped up by a flagger. Use your signals and make sure they work. You’ll want your signals – turn signals, brake lights, reverse lights, headlights and other signal lights to work any time you drive anyhow. It’s not a bad idea to have them checked out when you bring your car in for an oil change or other service.

While the fine associated with tickets, not to mention that penalties for hitting a road worker, are high, with the latter, there is also the costs of associated civil costs. Road workers don’t like to be hit by cars. And if the road worker doesn’t survive, their families are known to be unhappy about it, too.

Beyond the fines, the emotional cost for a driver who has seriously injured or killed a road worker is immeasurable. 

As the maps accompanying this article indicate, there is a significant amount of road construction planned in Illinois, McHenry County and Wonder Lake. It pays to be aware and drive safely in and out of construction zones.