(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) January 7 - According to Alabama Governor Bob Riley, Alabamians have reason to celebrate. Riley announced Wednesday that 2008 was the safest year on Alabama's highways in 23 years. More than 600 people were killed in traffic accidents worked by state troopers in 2008, but state officials say they will continue to make sure Alabama roads are safe.
"Now we are looking ahead. We don't want to just rest on our laurels that we had a good year," said Gov. Bob Riley. "The Department of Public Safety--our mission is highway safety and we looked at Alabama fatalities in 2006 and just knew we had to do business different."
According to a new report out by the Road Information Program, the Mobile area earned a grade of "F" on road safety. Every year from 2002 to 2006, an average of 89 people died in accidents on Mobile area roads.
