Jul 23, 2007 11:42 pm US/Central
Little Done To Protect Drivers From Road Hazard
by Dave Savini
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Metal reflectors can come loose as roads contract and expand, and can then fly into vehicles.
CBS
The CBS 2 Investigators first told you about a safety device that can be a serious hazard on our roads. Now, one year later, little has been done to protect drivers. Dave Savini reports on a new victim blindsided by one of the devices.
A jagged edged piece of metal secures reflectors to our roads; it also can come loose, fly through your windshield and cause serious harm.
Lou Costabile was hit by a five-pound chunk of a metal road reflector as his 11-year-old daughter Frankie watched in horror.
"It's just blood everywhere," Frankie said. "It was a very scary thing."
"It hit me right here and then it bounced off and got me in the ear and I had 19 stitches," Lou Costabile said.
It happened in February while on Illinois Route 47 near Hampshire.
The metal comes loose when weather causes roads to expand and contract. Pieces can then fly up when hit by vehicles.
The CBS 2 Investigators brought Costabile's reflector back to the scene. A sharp chunk was still in the ground, never removed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Richard Mallen, Costabile's attorney, showed CBS 2 more problems on Route 47.
"We took a look at this, there's 35 spots where there could be reflectors 17 are missing," Mallen said.
The 2 Investigators first exposed since 2000 at least 70 cases of reflectors injuring people or damaging cars on Illinois roads. Now CBS 2 has learned the list of victims has grown to more than 100.
Dave Gallagher says while driving on I-294 a reflector flew through his windshield.
"Another car kicked this up and it went right in between my wife and I," Gallagher said.
And CBS 2 first told you about Patricia O'Brien last year. She was also on I-294 when a reflector tore through her windshield and face causing permanent nerve damage.
"There have to be alternative ways to keep the highway safe," she said.
Meanwhile there are an unknown number of the loose or broken reflectors on our roads, and no immediate plans to replace them.
"That can kill, that can kill somebody," young Frankie Costabile said.
"These should be banned, period," Lou Costabile added.
After the 2 Investigators first exposed the danger the DuPage County Highway Department worked to remove damaged reflectors, and has starting using plastic ones instead.
The Illinois Toll Highway Authority is testing other types of reflectors including tape and epoxy paint to see if metal bases can be avoided. They've since settled their lawsuit with O'Brien.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
VIDEO: Watch The Original 'Blindsided' Report
SLIDESHOW: Unsafe Road Reflectors
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