SPRINGFIELD – Children who walk to and from school would be safer under a new proposal from State Senator Laura Murphy.

“Every parent wants to know that their child reached their school safely, but with distracted driving on the rise, even a simple walk to school can be stressful,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines.) “One thing that we can do to help reduce distraction is installing flashing beacons at crosswalks.”

Senate Bill 1941 allows local governments to install rapidly flashing beacons at pedestrian crosswalks near schools. These beacons activate when pedestrians use the crosswalk, alerting drivers to their presence.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there was a 9.5% increase in pedestrian fatalities in 2024, compared to 2023.

“Too many close calls happen near our schools,” Murphy said. “Flashing beacons at pedestrian crosswalks near schools provide an extra layer of safety for everyone.”

Senate Bill 1941 passed the Senate on Wednesday.