Historic low numbers reported in traffic deaths last year

By Sarah Stultz | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Saturday, August 16, 2008

The number of people who died from traffic deaths last year in the United States reached historically low levels, U.S. Transportation secretary Mary Peters said earlier this week.

According to a news release, the overall number of traffic fatalities across the country fell to 41,059, which is the lowest number since 1994. The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.37, the lowest fatality record on record.

“Thanks to safer vehicles, aggressive law enforcement and our efforts, countless families were spared the devastating news that a loved one was not coming home last year,” Peters said in the release. “You can be sure that we’re not stopping here, the quest is not over until that bottom line number is zero.”

The number of people injured in highway crashes was also at a historically low level, with 2.49 million people injured. This is the lowest number seen since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting injury data in 1988, the release stated.

The numbers held true in Freeborn County as well with two traffic fatalities on state highways and zero fatalities on county roads, according to county records. This was the lowest number since 1997, when there were zero fatalities during the entire year.

Freeborn County Sheriff Mark Harig said he thinks the decrease in fatalities was because of added law enforcement and presence across the county.

“If people see a squad, they’re more likely to slow down,” Harig said. “It helps them think about being more careful.”

This year, grant money for increased law enforcement is down, he said, and the number of fatalities is on the rise.

Already in 2008 there have been seven traffic deaths, according to county records.

There has also been an increase in motorcycle traffic crashes.

Harig said he thinks the increase in motorcycle traffic fatalities and injuries is because there are more people on motorcycles. With gas prices on the rise, people are turning to motorcycles for better gas mileage.

Across the country, the number of motorcycle riders or passenger fatalities has also increased 6.6 percent during the previous year, Peters said. Motorcycle fatalities now account for 13 percent of all fatalities.