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Saturday, July 26, 2008

Traffic Deaths Down by 20%

By Lloyd Jojola
Journal Staff Writer
       Many credit high gas prices.
    Some say it's an increased awareness about safety, and the ramifications of breaking traffic and DWI laws.
    Whatever the reasons, the nation is seeing a significant cut in the number of traffic deaths.
    And New Mexico is one of the states with the most dramatic drops.
    New Mexico's traffic deaths have declined 20 percent through July 20 compared with the same period last year.
    The number of alcohol-involved fatal accidents dropped more than 30 percent.
    "I think we have really increased awareness of the problem of drunk driving, and that has helped," said Peter Olson, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety. "And I think the increased enforcement is out there, especially with the (100 Days and Nights of Summer), people are seeing more cops, more checkpoints and driving carefully.
    "All of these things are factoring in," Olson said. "It's not one single effort."
    From January through July 20, there have been 181 traffic fatalities in the state, according to preliminary numbers from the state Department of Transportation, Traffic Safety Bureau. That's a 20.3 percent decline compared with the 227 fatalities reported through the same period last year. According to the same source, 64 of the 2008 accidents were "alcohol involved." That number was 93 for the same period in 2007.
    The National Safety Council showed a 9 percent drop in motor vehicle deaths overall through May compared with 2007 numbers, The Associated Press reported earlier this week. The federal government has also reported that miles traveled fell by close to 2 percent in April, compared with the same month last year, following a trend that started in November.
    "When the economy is in the tank and fuel prices are high, you typically see a decline in miles driven and traffic deaths," John Ulczycki, the council's executive director for transportation safety, told The Associated Press.
    High gas prices have likely been a factor in New Mexico, also.
    "There is probably now, at least this summer, some impact with gas prices and people not driving as much," Olson said. "I don't know if it's terribly noticeable unless you're really looking carefully, but there are people taking fewer trips or at least more careful trips — combining multiple errands in one trip instead of (driving) a couple of times."
    New Mexico Department of Transportation spokesman S.U. Mahesh also attributed the decline in fatalities to other increased public safety efforts, including the creation of so-called traffic "safety corridors" and initiatives such as the 100 Days and Nights of Summer public safety campaign that not only targets DWI offenders, but drivers who are not wearing seat belts or who are speeding.
    There were 112 traffic fatalities, 43 of which were alcohol-involved, when the 100 Days and Nights program was initiated in June, July and August 2007, Mahesh said.
    By comparison, there were 136 traffic fatalities, including 56 alcohol related, the prior year when the program didn't exist, he said.
    The initiative is taking place again this summer.
    Mahesh also noted that a number of "safety corridors" have been established throughout the state in recent years. They are high-risk traffic areas identified for increased law enforcement attention and double fines.