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Nebraska traffic deaths at 60-year low

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By The Associated Press

Friday, Aug 29, 2008 - 07:36:11 am CDT

Traffic deaths in Nebraska are at a 60-year low heading into Labor Day weekend.

As of midday Thursday, there were 126 traffic deaths so far this year, down from 173 the same time last year.

From 2004 through 2007, the average at this time of year was 169 fatalities.

Gov. Dave Heineman attributes the decline to enforcement, safety education, and other efforts by state agencies such as the Department of Roads.

But Adrian Lund of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has said that the sluggish economy and high gas prices were likely a factor in declines across the country.

Nationally, there was a decline in traffic deaths last year and many states have reported double-digit drops in fatalities during the first part of this year.


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WE wrote on August 29, 2008 7:48 am:
" Here is a direct quote from an article currently of the CNN website. So, while Nebraska traffic deaths are at an all time low, alcohol related traffic deaths IN Nebraska have increased.

"In addition to North Carolina and South Carolina, alcohol-impaired deaths increased in Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia." CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/29/drunken.driving.decline.ap/index.html "

 Ignignokt wrote on August 29, 2008 10:14 am:
" Soo..if deaths are at a 60-year low, then why is the new seat belt law necessary? Oh that's right...because fewer people driving means less gas burned, which equals less tax revenue for road work. So the real motivation boils down to money. "

 Way to Spin wrote on August 29, 2008 10:29 am:
" Why isn't anyone citing increased number of vehicles with airbags? Plus, the CNN article was also referring to the increase in deaths from motorcycle accidents, where a drunk on a motorcycle is really only a threat to him/herself and maybe pedestrians.
Also, if you're going to use statistics, know what they mean. "Alcohol impaired" means the driver had some level of alcohol, not necessarily over the legal limit. Despite popular claims to the contrary, a person with a b.a.c. of .08 does NOT actually show signs of impairment when driving. "

 Its the Energy Prices wrote on August 29, 2008 11:06 am:
" If this isn't an indication that people are driving much less because of the extremely high fuel prices, I don't know what is. The politicians will be lining up to claim that this program or that program is responsible for lowering the death toll.

I do give the engineers some credit for designing safer roads and eliminating dangerous areas. Good job people!

The flip side of this low number will occur next year if fuel prices moderate. If deaths return to "normal" levels, there will be a great hysteria about the massive increase in deaths, and the politicians will be lining up saying they need more money to make the roads safer.

I'm either giving my money to big oil or big government... "

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