PORTLAND, Maine (AP) The year that’s drawn to close is the deadliest on Maine roads in a decade–and it’s the deadliest for pedestrians in more than 20 years.
Lauren Stewart from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety says the number of pedestrian deaths was 21 at the end of 2017. That’s the worst in records that date to 1993.
Preliminary figures show the state had recorded 171 traffic fatalities in 2017. That’s the most since 183 in 2007.
Stewart said there’s no common thread but she suspects distractions for both drivers and pedestrians have played a role.
The state is launching a campaign in the new year called “Heads Up” that aims to boost awareness both for motorists and pedestrians.
