fatalities

Years ago, after a holiday gathering, my wife's grandmother left Rockford to return to her home in Elgin. A call came a short while later letting the family know that she'd had a "little problem" with directions.

If you've thought that there has been a lot more speeding and reckless driving since the pandemic began last March, you're absolutely right. Illinois traffic deaths during this COVID-19 nightmare have been spiking.

That's a pretty astounding drop-off, and a great statistic to see touted during National Teen Driver Safety Week.

It's that fun, post-winter time in Rockford when you begin to wonder when, not if, you'll knock your car out of alignment hitting a pothole.

The first six months of 2017 have seen an uptick in the number of Illinois traffic fatalities over the same period in 2016, all while the rate of traffic deaths has slightly decreased nationally. Experts say there are several reasons.

As a state, we haven't reached the 1000-plus traffic death figure since 2008 (when 1043 people were killed on Illinois roads, 998 last year), but safety and insurance industry experts say we're on our way to topping that number this year.

Having a teenage daughter myself, I 'm happy to share with you some good news from the office of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, regarding the overall reduction of traffic fatalities involving teens here in Illinois. In spite of several heartbreaking losses in our area very recently, more teens are surviving those first few years of driving Illinois' roadways...

Dave Dahl -- Illinois Radio Network More cars mean more accidents, and that means more fatalities. The National Safety Council says the first half of the year has recorded a fourteen percent increase compared to last year. More favorable weather and a better economy for driving are the reasons...

Jim Anderson -- Illinois Radio Network Fatalities on Illinois roads are down this year vs. last – but they’re making a comeback. Fatalities stand at 822, which is 85 fewer than at this time last year, and it’s possible to finish the year under 900, if people put their phones down and take other safety measures, says State Police Lt...