Saturday, May 25, 2013
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Record Driving Fatalities on Alaska Highways in 2011
Six weekend deaths bring this year's total to 40 people killed on Alaska roadways—that's nearly a dozen more than in 2009 and 2010.
By Kirsten Swann
There have been sixth deaths on Alaska's highways in the last seven days.
It's a scary statistic, but officials from the Alaska Highway Safety Office say it's a number that's not likely to change anytime soon.
The recent deaths bring this year's total to 40 people killed on Alaska roadways—that's nearly a dozen more than in 2009 and 2010.
While some of those deaths can be attributed to driving under the influence, speeding or driver inattention, highway safety officials say there's a bigger problem.
"As long as our roads are overburdened with more people on them than what they were meant to have, we will continue to drive at great risk," Cindy Cashen of the Alaska Highway Safety Office.
Some roads date as far back as World War II and highway safety officers say many of them are simply over capacity.
