Fatalities on State Highways Below 1,000 for First Time

Chicago - Last year was the safest on Illinois roadways in 88 years of reporting as traffic fatalities dropped below1,000, Illinois State Police and Gov. Quinn announced Monday. A total of 928 fatalities were reported in 2009, a year in which safety belt usage exceeded 91 percent.

Comparing last year’s results to 2008 and 2007, the state has seen a reduction of 115 and 320 fatalities, respectively. In 2008 1,043 fatalities occurred, while 1,248 traffic deaths were recorded in 2007, according to a release from state police. Since 2003, the data hows a historic downward trend in crash-related deaths during a time in which belt usage increased each year from 76 percent in 2003.

The Joliet District, which includes Will, Grundy and Kendall counties, had a total of 54 deaths caused by traffic crashes in 2009, the release said. That represents a decrease of 20 percent since 2007, when 68 deaths occurred. In 2008, 65 people perished.

Tollway District state police reported last week that fatalities on the 286-mile Illinois Tollway system in 2009 fell to single digits -- the lowest since its first full year of operation in 1959.

Traffic fatalities on the Illinois Tollway declined to nine from 19 in 2008, a release last week from the Tollway and state police said.