Can You Drive a Pickup Truck on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago?

The short answer is no. Lake Shore Drive (LSD) is a major roadway in the city of Chicago, and while it may be an attractive route to take, it is not suitable for pickup trucks.

Pickup trucks are not allowed on any of the city’s expressways or freeways including LSD. The Illinois Vehicle Code states that “no vehicle designed primarily for the transportation of property on its own structure” is allowed on these roads.

This includes all pickups, panel vans and other commercial vehicles. Furthermore, vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) over 8500 pounds, regardless of design, are also prohibited from these highways.

The restrictions on pickup trucks are due to their size and weight as well as their design features which can make them difficult to control on busy highways like LSD. Pickups have higher centers of gravity than other passenger vehicles which can increase the risk of rollover accidents when turning or cornering at high speeds. Additionally, they tend to be top-heavy and their wide wheelbase can make them prone to fishtailing or swinging out into other lanes if they encounter a sudden gust of wind or uneven pavement surfaces.

It’s also important to note that while pickups may be designed for off-road use, they are not necessarily designed for highway speeds. Most pickups have lower ground clearance which can cause them to bottom-out when driving over bumps or potholes at highway speeds; this can damage the vehicle and lead to an accident should it occur suddenly enough that the driver cannot avoid it.

For all these reasons, pickup trucks are prohibited from most city highways including Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. While pickups may be convenient for carrying large loads around town or for commuting during light traffic hours, they should always be avoided when driving on highways such as LSD due to their size and design limitations which make them unsafe at higher speeds.

Conclusion: Pickup trucks are prohibited from most city highways including Lake Shore Drive in Chicago due to their size and design limitations which make them unsafe at higher speeds. Therefore, drivers should avoid using pickup trucks when driving on highways such as LSD.

Photo of author

James Gardner