AUGUSTA, Maine — Despite concerns about driver texting and inattention, the number of highway deaths in Maine in 2018 was among the lowest in 60 years, officials say. The lowest number of fatalities was 131 in 2014, and there were 136 fatalities in 2011. There were also significant reductions in the number deaths of pedestrians and younger drivers between 16 and 19, said Lauren Stewart, director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety. Nationwide, the number of highway deaths was down in 2017, and estimates for the first half of 2018 suggested another decrease, according to the Federal Highway Administration. But those numbers vary from state to state, Stewart said, and speeding, impaired driving and distracted driving all remain concerns.

Source: National Post January 01, 2019 15:45 UTC