Many bicycle related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated with the bicyclist's behavior, including such things as not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign, and riding the wrong way in traffic. To maximize your safety, always wear a helmet AND follow the rules of the road. 

Rules of the Road - Bicycling on the Road 

Cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. 

When riding, always: 

Go With the Traffic Flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow - not against it. 

Obey All Traffic Laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you're a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. 

Yield to Traffic When Appropriate. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a smaller roadway (out of a driveway, from a sidewalk, a bike path, etc.), you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. This also means yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk. 

Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others. 

Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes and ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don't wear a headset when you ride. 

Look Before Turning. When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left or right turning traffic. 

Watch for Parked Cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).

Elk Grove Village Bike Routes

Drivers and passengers tend to use seat belts more during expressway driving than on local roadways. The impression that the higher speeds during expressway travel demand more safety is a critical error. There are more potential hazards on trips through local streets than on expressways. Local street drivers must contend with intersections, opposing traffic flows, hazardous driving violations, and pedestrian/bicyclist traffic.

Speed alone should not determine seat belt use. There is a false sense of security when we drive the short distance trips in our busy daily routines. Take the time to get in the habit of safety for yourself and your family through the use of seat belts on all driving trips.

Coyote Sighting Reporting 

Due to our proximity to the Busse Woods Forest Preserve, the Village has received reports from residents with concerns about increased coyote activity in populated areas throughout the years. While not all coyote sightings are cause for concern, our top priority is keeping our residents and pets safe. The Village is taking a proactive step to strategically address coyote issues or concerns by partnering with Scientific Wildlife Management. Scientific Wildlife Management has worked with many municipalities throughout the Chicagoland Area and is led by Rob Erikson, one of the nation’s leading experts on the topic of urban coyote management.The Village has hired Scientific Wildlife Management to understand, monitor, and manage the coyote population within Elk Grove Village. 

By clicking Scientific Wildlife Management, you will be directed to their website to report any and all unusual coyote behavior. This information collected will allow them to accurately investigate coyote concerns. They will review the information such as location, physical condition of the coyote, and the behavior of the coyote in order to identify any coyotes that display unusual or threatening behavior.

Private Property Wildlife Control

The Village has approved ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention Inc. for wildlife nuisance control on private property. The Village no longer provides animal control services involving wild animals on private property unless the animal is sick, injured, or possesses an immediate hazard/danger to the public. The Police Department will continue to respond to complaints from residents regarding dogs, cats, and animal abuse situations.

To better assist residents in addressing wild animal nuisance problems on private property ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention Inc. has been identified as providing professional services at the lowest cost to Elk Grove Village residents. ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention Inc. will charge a private resident directly for the trapping and removal of raccoons, skunks, opossums, squirrels, rabbits, groundhogs, and foxes.

The Village is not the purchaser of private animal control services and the decision to use ABC Humane Wildlife is that of the property owner and not the Village. The decision whether to use ABC Humane Wildlife, or any other commercial animal control service, is completely up to the resident. Residents wishing to use ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention Inc. must deal directly with the company.

ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention 847-870-7175

Rates as of August 2019

Initial Inspection and trap set-up: $65
Removal of targeted/non targeted animal: $55
Hand-Capture of Animal: $150
Dead animal Removal: $55

Business Hours Emergency Response: $150 plus fee for services required
After Hours Emergency Response: $350 plus fee for services required

Preventing Animal Control Problems

Please visit the Environmental Health Division's page on suburban wildlife in order to read about how to prevent animal control problems before they occur or escalate.

 

 

In Illinois, all children under the age of eight must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat. Child safety seats include infant seats, convertible seats, and booster seats that are used with the vehicles lap and shoulder belt system. 

General Guidelines:

Infants, from birth to at least age 1, and at least 20 pounds, should ride in the back seat in a rear-facing safety seat.  

Children older than age 1 and at least 20 pounds may ride in a forward-facing safety seat in the back seat. Children should ride in a safety seat secured in the full harness until they weigh about 40 pounds. 

All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they reach age 8, unless they are 4’9” tall. 

The Elk Grove Village Police Department does not inspect child seats but if you would like assistance in checking your seat for recalls or proper installation please go to www.nhtsa.gov and search for a child seat technician in your area. 

It is recommended that a child safety seat be no more than 5 years old from the date of manufacture. Every child safety seat has an information sticker that includes the model number, model name, serial number and date of manufacture. Child safety seats are typically made of plastic, which can over time, break down from exposure to heat and cold weather. If the seat is more than 5 years old, we cannot install the seat. 

Please visit www.ilsos.gov and www.Buckleupillinois.org for more information.

Each year, over 30,000 people die and millions are injured due to traffic crashes in the United States.
It is the leading cause of death to people age 16 to 25. Crash statistics show that Distracted Driving
contributes to 25% of all crashes. Distracted behaviors include cell phone and computer use, personal grooming, reading and eating while operating a motor vehicle. The Elk Grove Police Department recommends not engaging in distractive activities while driving to ensure your safety and the safety of others.

Current Laws

The use of an electronic communication device (texting) while driving anywhere in the state is against the law. This includes sending, composing, or reading any type of electronic message. It does not prohibit viewing a GPS unit that is properly mounted. The use of a cell phone in a school or construction zone is also illegal. Remember: Drive Now - Text Later.

For more information about distracted driving and other Illinois traffic laws including the Graduated Drivers License Program, refer to the Illinois Secretary of State website at www.ilsos.gov.

You may find this surprising, but most burglaries to a vehicle involve no forced entry.  Unlike what is portrayed on television and in the movies, kicked in doors, pulled locks and smashed windows are not the norm.  Thieves prefers to work in the quiet and will walk down entire blocks looking for an open car door instead of just breaking glass.  Criminals are taking advantage of the tendency of vehicle owners to leave a key or fob inside their cars or nearby in a garage. The thieves then use this stolen vehicle to target another area or return to the community they live in.

Ultimately, crime is driven by three elements, Desire, Ability and Opportunity. As all of us are potential victims, we can do little regarding a criminal’s desire and ability to commit a crime, but we certainly can help diminish their opportunity.  Simply locking the doors of your vehicle can help prevent yourself from becoming a victim. We recommend that you participate in the 9 p.m. Routine by running through the following mental checklist every evening before 9 p.m.:

1. Remove valuables from vehicle

2. Lock vehicle’s doors

3. Close garage

4. Lock exterior doors

5. Turned on exterior lights

The Elk Grove Village Police Department encourages all residents and visitors to participate in the 9 p.m. Routine.  By practicing these simple steps, we can work together to reduce crime and stop it before it even occurs.

Cellular customers living in or traveling through the Northwest Central Dispatch System (NWCDS) service area may be able to use their mobile phones to send a text message to 911 for emergency help. NWCDS is the first 9-1-1 communications center in Illinois to accept text messages from all major carriers.

The NWCDS service areas includes Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Prospect Heights and Rolling Meadows.

Texting should only be used during an emergency when you are unable to make a voice call to 9-1-1.

How to text 9-1-1 in an emergency:

• Enter the numbers “911” in the “To” field; Do not include any other recipient.
• The first text message to 9-1-1 should be brief and contain the location of the
  emergency and type of help needed;
• Push the “Send” button.
• Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 call taker.
• Text in simple words – do not use abbreviations.
• Keep text messages brief and concise.

Below are a few things to know if you need to text 9-1-1:

• Text location information is not equal to current location technology.
• As with all text messages, 9-1-1 messages can take longer to receive and can get out of order or may not be received. 
• Text to 9-1-1 is not available if you are roaming.
• A text or data plan is required to place a text-to-9-1-1 
• If texting to 9-1-1 is not available in your area, or is temporarily unavailable, you will receive a message indicating that texting 9-1-1 is not available and to contact 9-1-1 by other means. 
• Photos and videos cannot be sent to 9-1-1 at this time.
• Do not text and drive!

Remember, texting should only be used during an emergency when the caller cannot communicate verbally. This includes situations when a crime is in progress; the caller is facing domestic abuse; or the caller is injured and cannot speak. This technology is also especially helpful to those who are hard of hearing, deaf, or speech-impaired.

Even with this advanced capability, the best way to contact 9-1-1 continues to be via voice communications whenever possible.

More information regarding text to 9-1-1 can be found on the National Emergency Number Association website: http://www.nena.org