California road fatalities drop over 10 percent in 2009

OFF THE WIRE
CALIFORNIA:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/california-road-fatalities-drop-over-10-percent-20/
California road fatalities drop over 10 percent in 2009
By Robert J. Hawkins, Originally published CALIFORNIA:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/california-road-fatalities-drop-over-10-percent-20/
California road fatalities drop over 10 percent in 2009
By Robert J. Hawkins, Originally published September 9, 2010 at 2:09 p.m., updated
National highway safety figures for 2009
California's roadways are becoming a little safer, according to federal highway safety figures to be released by the federal government today.Just the same, in 2009, there were 3,081 fatalities on state roadways, 353 fewer than the previous year, a 10.3 percent drop. The figures reflect the national trend in which highway deaths fell to 33,808 for the year, the lowest number since 1950 and a 9.7 percent decline over the previous year, according to federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.The decline in national traffic fatalities occurred even as estimated vehicle-miles-traveled in 2009 increased by 0.2 percent over 2008 levels.In figures from California's Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), motorcycle fatalities have seen their first drop statewide since 1998 while alcohol-related traffic deaths dropped in 2009 -- for the fourth consecutive year.Federal statistics show California recorded 950 DUI fatalities in 2009, a drop from 1,025 in 2008. Statewide DUI fatalities peaked in 2005 when 1,298 deaths were recorded."Everyone in California should be heartened with these figures," said Christopher J. Murphy, director of OTS in a prepared statement. "But as encouraging as this is, we can’t let up on the efforts to encourage and enforce traffic safety. Thousands are still losing their lives or being severely injured on our roadways."Nationally, DUI fatalities fell 7.4 percent in 2009 – 10,839 compared to 11,711 in 2008.California's 29.6 percent drop in motorcycle fatalities halts an 11-year, 175 percent increase. In 2009, motorcycles were linked to 394 deaths. A year earlier, 560 deaths were reported. In a prepared statement, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration boss David Strickland links the declines to record seat belt use and strong anti-drinking-driving campaigns. He added, “But we are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving."In California, OTS ties a variety of circumstances to lowering fatality numbers, including a downturn in the economy, flat gas sales, fewer motorcycle registrations (down 2 percent), better automobile safety technology, increased safetytraining and DUI awareness programs among them.National highway safety figures for 2009
California's roadways are becoming a little safer, according to federal highway safety figures to be released by the federal government today.Just the same, in 2009, there were 3,081 fatalities on state roadways, 353 fewer than the previous year, a 10.3 percent drop. The figures reflect the national trend in which highway deaths fell to 33,808 for the year, the lowest number since 1950 and a 9.7 percent decline over the previous year, according to federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.The decline in national traffic fatalities occurred even as estimated vehicle-miles-traveled in 2009 increased by 0.2 percent over 2008 levels.In figures from California's Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), motorcycle fatalities have seen their first drop statewide since 1998 while alcohol-related traffic deaths dropped in 2009 -- for the fourth consecutive year.Federal statistics show California recorded 950 DUI fatalities in 2009, a drop from 1,025 in 2008. Statewide DUI fatalities peaked in 2005 when 1,298 deaths were recorded."Everyone in California should be heartened with these figures," said Christopher J. Murphy, director of OTS in a prepared statement. "But as encouraging as this is, we can’t let up on the efforts to encourage and enforce traffic safety. Thousands are still losing their lives or being severely injured on our roadways."Nationally, DUI fatalities fell 7.4 percent in 2009 – 10,839 compared to 11,711 in 2008.California's 29.6 percent drop in motorcycle fatalities halts an 11-year, 175 percent increase. In 2009, motorcycles were linked to 394 deaths. A year earlier, 560 deaths were reported. In a prepared statement, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration boss David Strickland links the declines to record seat belt use and strong anti-drinking-driving campaigns. He added, “But we are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving."In California, OTS ties a variety of circumstances to lowering fatality numbers, including a downturn in the economy, flat gas sales, fewer motorcycle registrations (down 2 percent), better automobile safety technology, increased safetytraining and DUI awareness programs among them.