fatalities

Despite scaremongering about an increase in the speed limit to 70mph in the spring of 2011 the Ohio Turnpike remained one of the safest roads in the region at six fatalities in 2011. THis represents a continued downward trend.

The fatality number hasn't been this low as this in any year since 1956, the first year of full operation.

Traffic volumes were way less.

Executive director Rick Hodges said in a statement that they were encouraged by the decline in deaths, though of course they'd like there to be no fatalities.

Nine people died in traffic accidents on the Illinois Tollway system in 2009, the lowest year's number in the 60 year history of the Chicago area tollroads. Annual traffic deaths have always previously been in the double-digits. In 2008 19 died.

Ten people died in a multi-vehicle crash today on Will Rogers Turnpike (I-44) in far northeast Oklahoma after an 18-wheeler slammed into stopped traffic at high speed.

Traffic was stopped because of an earlier non-fatal crash. People on the scene are reported saying the truck barely slowed before hitting an SUV at the tail of a backup, suggesting driver inattention was the cause.