Speed limits have been reduced by up to 20 mph after a fatal crash tragically claimed a child’s life near Tulsa
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has lowered the speed limit along Highway 67 near Tulsa, also known as 151st Street South, after a tragic car accident last month claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy. The move comes after weeks of public outcry and calls from local leaders for change.
On September 9, 2025, a horrible collision near Peoria Avenue took the life of Taylyn Bain, a young boy from Glenpool. The devastating crash sent shockwaves through the community and sparked renewed calls for safety improvements along one of the city’s busiest corridors.
Community rallies to demand change
Taylyn’s death led to a wave of emotion across Glenpool. Neighbors, city officials, and local families gathered for protests and vigils demanding action. Among those who joined the public protest was Glenpool Mayor Joyce Calvert. He stated that the city could not wait any longer to make changes that might save lives.
Just one month later, ODOT crews installed new speed limit signs along Highway 67. The posted speed has dropped significantly in several sections:
- From east of Peoria Avenue, the limit is now 45 miles per hour, down from 65.
- From Peoria to Yale Avenue, it’s been lowered to 55 miles per hour.
- From Yale to Memorial Drive, drivers will now see a 45-mile-per-hour limit.
- The goal, according to transportation officials, is to make the road safer for drivers, pedestrians, and nearby residents.
Why were city officials calling for change?
According to Glenpool City Manager David Tillotson, the city has been pushing for this change for months. Roughly 15 percent of all crashes in Glenpool happen along that same stretch of Highway 67.
Following Taylyn’s death, the city partnered with ODOT to conduct a joint safety study. That study, completed on October 6, helped confirm what residents already knew: the road was dangerous and overdue for improvements.
The community’s push didn’t stop at lowering the speed limit. Residents also called for new traffic lights and other safety measures. The protests that followed Bain’s death drew wide support, including from local leaders who stood shoulder to shoulder with families demanding action.
Shortly after the demonstrations, Tillotson announced that the new speed limits would go into effect as early as Monday afternoon.
What’s next for Highway 67?
While the new signs are up, city leaders say this is just the beginning. Tillotson explained that Glenpool and Bixby are continuing to work with ODOT and INCPG on a broader corridor study that will look at traffic flow, potential signal installations, and the design of the Highway 67 and Highway 75 interchange.
“What we’ve been asking for all along is implementation of that corridor study and the recommendations from that study,” Tillotson said.
Tillotson explained that the next phase will focus on working with ODOT as it finalizes the corridor study for Highway 67 and the Highway 75 interchange. Once that study is complete and the plans for the ramps are finalized, ODOT will be able to move forward with helping the city implement new traffic signals and other recommended safety measures.
City officials were to receive more details from ODOT, including whether new traffic lights or additional safety features will be installed at key intersections.
How will the new speed limits be enforced?
Glenpool Police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and other nearby departments increased their presence to ensure drivers obey the lower speed limits.
Officials say the goal isn’t to write more tickets; it’s to keep drivers safe and prevent another tragedy like the one that took Taylyn Bain’s life. For Glenpool residents, the new signs serve as both a reminder of what was lost and a promise to do better.
While the changes won’t undo the heartbreak, they represent a community coming together to protect one another and make sure no family has to endure that kind of loss again.
Speeding remains one of the leading causes of fatal crashes in Oklahoma
Speeding might seem harmless when the road looks clear, but it’s one of the most common and dangerous factors in serious and fatal crashes in Oklahoma and nationwide. When drivers push beyond the posted limit or drive too fast for weather, traffic, or road conditions, they reduce the time and distance needed to avoid a potential collision. Here’s why speeding is so dangerous and why these crashes happen so often:
- Less time to react: The faster a car is moving, the less time a driver has to notice and respond to obstacles, stopped vehicles, or sudden lane changes. Even a one-second delay in reaction time can mean the difference between stopping safely and causing a crash.
- Longer stopping distance: Higher speeds dramatically increase how far a vehicle travels before coming to a complete stop. A car going 65 mph needs more than 300 feet to stop, roughly the length of a football field.
- Greater crash impact: When a crash happens at high speed, the force of impact multiplies. This makes injuries more severe and raises the likelihood of death, especially for pedestrians, cyclists, and children.
- Loss of control: At higher speeds, it’s easier to lose control when rounding curves, changing lanes, or encountering road hazards like gravel or water.
- Reduced effectiveness of safety features: Seat belts, airbags, and crumple zones are designed to protect occupants within certain speed limits. When speeds are excessive, even advanced safety technology can’t fully absorb the force of impact.
- Driving too fast for conditions: Speeding isn’t always about breaking the posted limit. Crashes often happen when drivers fail to slow down for rain, fog, construction zones, or heavy traffic.
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