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Hello, driver? Hang up and drive!

Hello, driver? Hang up and drive!

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
February 5, 2010

This morning I followed this grey Mercedes SUV (Illinois license X32 1617) east on U.S. 14 from Woodstock. Sure do wish that Woodstock PD had had an officer at Doty Road to stop this driver! (Click on the image to enlarge it; then click on the Back button on your browser to return here.)

Just east of Culver's there is a lane drop, where the two eastbound lanes merge. Just after the beginning of the single eastbound lane, the driver edged toward the center of the roadway and actually crossed the double-yellow line into the oncoming lane. The left side and left-side tires were fully across the centerline, AND there was oncoming traffic.

As the oncoming traffic dove for the westbound shoulder, the Mercedes driver steered back into the eastbound lane. Then, again, the Mercedes driver wandered across the center line in the face of oncoming traffic.

In the gradual left curve approaching Lake Shore Drive by Java Planet, the driver left the traffic lane and drove partially onto the right shoulder. That's when I called the Woodstock P.D.

They did not have an officer nearby and realized we'd be out of the City before a police car could intercept this errant driver, and the dispatcher offered to notify Crystal Lake P.D.

The driver "woke" up after passing Doty Road and maintained a steady course to Crystal Lake, then turned left onto eastbound Route 176. I really had been hoping to see a Crystal Lake PD car, but there was not one in sight when I pulled into McDonald's at 14 & 176.

If you know this vehicle's owner, please direct him or her to read this article. The driver missed out on a careless driving ticket and one for failing to stay in the lane of traffic on three occasions.