Politics & Government

Police Launch Campaign to Make Haligus-Scott Intersection Safer

A 12-year-old was seriously injured last month when a car struck him as he walked across Haligus Road onto the Marlowe Middle School campus.

Huntley police are launching a campaign to improve safety at the intersection at Haligus Road and Scott Drive.

Police will be at the intersection this week, passing out information to motorists and reminding them to drive cautiously.

A 12-year-old Marlowe Middle School student was seriously injured last month when a car struck him as he walked across Haligus Road onto the school campus. The boy is recovering from his injuries.

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The accident came months after a group of parents appeared at a Village Board meeting asking Huntley do something to make the intersection safer.

Village Manager Dave Johnson said the village reduced the 35 speed limit to a 20 mph school zone and placed eight traffic signs in the area last fall. A flashing sign also was installed at the intersection.

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Johnson, along with Huntley Police Chief John Perkins and Consolidated District 158 Superintendent John Burkey, recently met with parents who again raised concerns about safety.

While the intersection has a high traffic volume, it does not warrant a traffic light or a crossing guard, Johnson said.

Huntley police have traffic control criteria for dangerous intersections, and Haligus Road and Scott Drive does not meet the criteria, Perkins said. There have been three accidents in four years, which does not make it hazardous. A stop sign actually might make the intersection worse, because motorists would roll past it, he said.

“It’s not that we don’t want to do something, (but) we don’t want to make it worse,” Perkins said.

Even if the intersection did meet the traffic-control criteria and a stoplight was put in place, it would spell bad news for District 158. The district has school campuses that have a “hazardous” designation from the state of Illinois, which means the entire district qualifies for busing.

A change of designation could be jeopardized if the village places a light or crossing guard at the intersection and could result in District 158 losing transportation funding.

Huntley police have been doing traffic counts at the intersection and will be out Thursday morning, passing out information and asking drivers and pedestrians to be careful, Johnson said.

“They have to be extremely cautious going through there,” Johnson said. “There is a significant amount of traffic in that area. Everybody — motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists — need to be at the top of their game and need to be cognizant of what’s going on,” he said.

District 158 also is doing a public education campaign advising students and parents not to walk to school. The district encourages students to ride the bus or have someone pick them up, Johnson said.

“Obviously, we want to work with the community to make sure we can all work together and make the crossing as safe as possible,” Johnson said.

The public awareness campaign also will serve as a reminder to drive safely this summer, when children are out of school and playing in neighborhoods.


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