Auto insurance rates are rising sharply in Illinois, as drivers hit the road and repair costs skyrocket

In Chicago, the number of drivers commuting downtown daily last year was 21% below 2019, according to an annual traffic report by INRIX. But the roads have become increasingly dangerous during the pandemic, with 1,363 traffic fatalities across the state last year, up more than a third from 2019, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.