There are a number of road safety initiatives that coincide during the month of May, including National Youth Traffic Safety Month, National Bicycle Safety Month and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. That’s three of them.
But there is a more important number for Maine drivers to consider when they get behind the wheel this month, and every month: 52.
That’s the number of people who, according to the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (MBHS), have died on Maine roads this year through May 21. And sadly, that list continues to get longer. Dominic Reid of Waterville, 21, was killed in a Monday morning collision in Winslow.
“All these tragic deaths could have been prevented, sparing grief and heartache for their loved ones left behind,” MBHS director Lauren Stewart said in a May 7 press release. “These are not merely numbers; these are real people with friends and families that will miss them forever.”
At the time of that press release, there had been 42 traffic deaths in Maine so far in 2024. That was an increase from 29 as of the same time last year, and was the second highest total since 2020. Even more alarming, there have already been 10 deaths in the two weeks since that press release. There have now been over 50 traffic deaths in 2024, compared to 33 at this point last year.
As Stewart emphasized earlier this month, these preventable deaths were much more than numbers — they were people. Like Gabrielle Pariseau, the 22-year-old woman who was hit by a car and killed while walking on Union Street in Bangor around 10 p.m. on May 6.
Unfortunately, tragic road incidents keep happening. Drivers need to realize that every time they get behind the wheel, they could impact lives. They need to pay attention and share the road with caution. We all have a role to play in avoiding more of these preventable deaths.
The Bureau of Highway Safety emphasized several safety tips for all road users:
Leave extra time to get to your destination and avoid speeding; buckle up; make sure children are secured in appropriately sized car seats; watch for pedestrians, cyclists, children and animals; watch for motorcycles; drive sober and alert; get off your phone; and never leave children unattended.
Caution, of course, is needed from everyone sharing Maine roads. Pedestrians, cyclists and others need to be cautious themselves, and need to be using the proper sides of the road and any crosswalks and bike lanes available. And, local and state officials have a role to play in creating and maintaining road infrastructure that is safe and accessible for all types of users.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll keep saying it, because lives continue to be on the line: Drive carefully, slow down, stay off your phone, wear bright colors when you’re walking, and generally do everything you can to make sure you and others on the road can get home safely. Accidents happen, yes, but everyone can take steps to make them less likely and make Maine roads safer.
