Nearly One-Third DUI—

State Highway Deaths Up While National Rates Decline

By John Voket

While traffic deaths in the United States fell to their lowest total in five years in 2006, and the rate of deaths per miles traveled dropped to a record low, Connecticut experienced a marked increase in motor vehicle deaths, a federal safety survey revealed this week.

Between 2005 and 2006, Connecticut saw an increase from 278 to 301 deaths, an 8.3 percent rise, putting the Nutmeg State among the top ten highest percentage increases nationwide. Vermont led the nation with a 19 percent increase in fatalities during the same period.

Highway crashes killed 42,642 people last year, said Nicole Nason, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That compares with the 43,510 who died in 2005, according to the agency’s latest figures.

“To me, that is 868 families that didn’t get the terrible call that a loved one was killed in a motor vehicle accident,” Ms Nason said. The NHTSA released its latest annual findings at the 33rd International Forum on Traffic Records and Highway Safety Systems.

While the latest release highlights a spike in the stats, Connecticut Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Nursick was quick to point out an overall downward trend in state highway deaths in recent years.

“In 1989 we had 405 fatalities tied to highway crashes,” Mr Nursick said.

The DOT representative said he was more troubled that nearly one-third of the state highway deaths in the latest report involved alcohol or operating under the influence.

“The overwhelming number of fatalities resulted from some form of driver error, including 28 percent involving alcohol or impaired drivers,” Mr Nursick said. “Speeding, reckless operation, distracted driving — people operating equipment or cellphones — and DUI are all areas of driver responsibility,” he said.

Lt J. Paul Vance, who is the commanding officer of the state Department of Public Safety’s public information unit, said in any case where these statistics show an increase there is a need for even greater concern.

“Connecticut is utilizing all the tools at our disposal, including manpower, in our efforts to ensure voluntary compliance with our traffic laws,” Lt Vance told The Bee Tuesday. He said a multifaceted effort to address issues like impaired operators, speed, and aggressive driving can only be improved with the public’s help.

“We ask Connecticut operators to set an example for all motorists, by operating safely, utilizing seat belts, and especially reaching out to parents of young drivers,” Lt Vance said. “We ask parents to remind their young drivers about their responsibilities when they get behind the wheel.”

Lt Vance said law enforcement agencies depend on the public to help identify problems on the road as well.

“Connecticut operators are our eyes and ears out there,” he said. “We urge them to report any activity they might consider reckless or that might endanger any motorist or member of the general public.”

Lt Vance recommended that any concern be reported by dialing 911. “Just make a note of the license number if possible and keep safe,” he said.

Nationally, the fatality rate of 1.42 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in 2006 was the lowest rate recorded by the Department of Transportation, Ms Nason said. More analysis needs to be done to better understand the overall decline in traffic deaths, but factors include strong law enforcement and more and better safety features in cars, she added.

Deaths in alcohol-related crashes remained essentially the same as in 2005, Ms Nason said.

The NHTSA report also broke down highway deaths by state. It said Missouri led the list with a 13 percent drop in fatalities, from 1,257 in 2005 to 1,096 in 2006. At the other end of the spectrum, Vermont highway deaths increased to 87 in 2006 compared with 73 in 2005.

Motorcycle deaths increased for the ninth straight year, especially involving older riders, and for the first time exceeded pedestrian deaths, Ms Nason said. The NHTSA figures show 4,810 motorcycle deaths last year, compared with 4,553 in 2005.

Jonathan Adkins, a spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association, said his organization was very disappointed about the increased motorcycle fatalities, saying the data showed “no sign that the trend is going to get anything but worse.”

States need to implement laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets, Mr Adkins said. Currently, only 20 states and the District of Columbia require riders to wear protective helmets.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)