Fewer killed on roads in 2008, AAA says

Fewer travelers at the wheel appears to be the main reason for this year’s marked decline in traffic deaths on Virginia and Tennessee roads, according to the American Automobile Association and state data. 
In Tennessee, 1,200 fatalities occurred in 2007 from the first of the year to this date last year, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety. Reports show that number for 2008 is 982, a decrease of 218 deaths, or just over 18 percent.
In Virginia, traffic deaths dropped from 1,015 in 2007 to 795 in 2008, a drop of 220 fatalities, or about 27 percent, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.
There were 89 fatalities last year in the 15 counties that comprise Southwest Virginia, Virginia State Police Sgt. Michael Conroy said Monday. That’s compared to 70 fatalities last year, a decline of 19, or about 21 percent.
“I think the decline is due to a variety of factors,” Conroy said. “I think people traveled less when fuel prices shot up early this year. But I also think our public awareness campaign and enforcement efforts played a part in it.”
Conroy said people should not become complacent when they see the lower numbers, and that the current numbers are still too high.
“That 3,000-pound missile – it demands your full attention, and a distraction is a distraction. But the odds will catch up with you, whether it’s alcohol use, cell phones or other distractions.”
The bell also tolled less often on highways nationwide, AAA Mid-Atlantic reported.
“It’s a grim reality – someone is killed every 12 minutes on American Highways,” Windy A. VanCuren, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman, said Monday. “However, highway traffic deaths were down 10 percent through the first 10 months of the year compared with 2007.”
Americans drove 100 billion fewer miles between November 2007 and October 2008 – the largest drop in driving in American history, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
More than 31,000 people died on the nation’s roads through October compared to about 35,000 during the same period last year, VanCuren said.
“Its kind off a double-edged sword,” she said. “There were fewer deaths, because there was less traffic. Gas prices were up, which means fewer people traveled. It’s wonderful that fewer people were killed. At the same time, state departments of transportation are partially funded from gas taxes, and the curtailment may be killing DOT budgets – it’s clearly saving lives on our roads.”
Tennessee Highway Patrol officials were not immediately available for comment Monday.
Bristol Tennessee Police Department Chief Blaine Wade agreed that the economy likely affected the number of motorists on the road this year. Three fatalities were recorded within Bristol’s city limits this year, he said.
“I think when gasoline prices were soaring earlier in the year it definitely caused people to conserve,” he said. “So I do agree there may have been fewer vehicles on the road.
“We also focused strongly on the governor’s safety program this past year and received first place for cities our size for combining enforcement with education to reach our goal of reducing fatalities,” Wade said.
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