Traffic deaths drop to lowest level since 1954

33,963 deaths in 2009

Vilas Bhuchar, Mar 17, 10.

Traffic deaths, in 2009, were at their lowest level since 1954 and nearly 9 percent lower than 2008 figures, according to U.S. Department of Transportation projections, and reported by the Associated Press.

Transportation Department projections showed total traffic deaths declining from 37,261 in 2008 to 33,963 in 2009, notes the story, which adds that deaths have been on a steady decline since 2005, when an estimated 43,510 people were killed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration credits the decline to more people wearing seat belts, programs to discourage drunken driving, and cars built with better safety features, according to the story:

Side air bags that protect the head and midsection are becoming standard equipment on many new vehicles. And electronic stability control, which helps motorists avoid rollover crashes, is more common on new cars and trucks.

“We knew that those technologies would be reducing fatalities,” said Anne McCartt, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s senior vice president for research. “Vehicles are built to protect people better in crashes now.”

She also agreed that an increase in seat belt use could be a factor.

Seat belt use climbed to 84 percent in 2009, partly because of state efforts that let police stop a vehicle for a seat belt violation, even if this is the only violation an officer observes. States have also pushed tougher laws to reduce drunken driving.

Despite the progress made in reducing fatalities, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood cautioned that “there are still far too many people dying in traffic accidents,” and added, according to the story: