Road Deaths Go Down as Gas Prices Go Up

National Safety Council officials recently reported a 9 percent drop in motor vehicle deaths overall through May 2008, compared with the first five months of 2007. This includes drops of 18 percent in March and 14 percent in April.

The Associated Press obtained preliminary figures showing that some states have reported declines of 20 percent or more. According to the council, thirty-one states have seen declines of at least 10 percent, and only eight states have reported an increase.

Road fatalities are falling as Americans cut back sharply on driving because of record-high gas prices.

Fewer people on the road mean fewer deaths. "That shows a good thing coming out of this crisis," said Gus Williams, 52, of Albany, Ga., who frequently drives to northern Ohio. He also noticed that many motorists are driving slower.

The federal government reported a trend that began in November 2007: miles traveled fell 1.8 percent in April compared with a year earlier.

Experts say a faltering economy and high fuel prices have reduced the number of road fatalities quickly.

John Ulczycki, the council's executive director for transportation safety, said, "When the economy is in the tank and fuel prices are high, you typically see a decline in miles driven and traffic deaths."

Other factors cited include such measures as police increasing their vigilant capture of speeders and drunken drivers, as well as improved teen-licensing programs, safer vehicles, and harsh winter weather that kept many drivers indoors. The Governors Highway Safety Association also reports that seat belt use is probably at record levels, possibly topping out at 90 percent in several states when figures are tallied later this year.

The last time road deaths fell this rapidly and sharply was during the 1973-1974 Arab oil embargo, when deaths fell 17 percent, from about 55,100 to 46,000; and when states raised the drinking age to 21 in 1982-83, when fatalities fell 11 percent, from about 49,300 to 44,000.

Chuck Hurley, chief executive of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said half of the decline in road deaths during the 1970s was attributed to high gas prices. The remainder was linked to the lowering of freeway speed limits to 55 mph. Hurley said high gas prices have helped curb drunken driving, too.

Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia has said perhaps Congress will consider reimposing a national speed limit.

Hurley said that regardless of states' new safety measures, it is obvious that motorists are cutting discretionary travel and reducing the kind of late-night outings for alcohol that often lead to deadly accidents, just like in the early 1970s.

Maj. Daniel Lonsdorf of the Wisconsin State Patrol said, "People are going home early or stopping by a store and buying a case of beer and taking it home."

For about 15 years, fatality rates have remained relatively flat, totaling 42,642 in 2006, the last year for which complete figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are accessible.

Regulators say a better indicator of road fatalities is the number per 100 million miles traveled, a rate that has been on the decline even as Americans drive more. In 2006, that figure fell to its lowest level: 1.42 deaths.

Yet the drop-off this year is even greater and appears to be accelerating.

Indiana traffic deaths are down 26 percent and on pace to surpass the lowest level since the state first began keeping records 18 years ago: 792 fatalities in 2002.

Ohio's rate is off 20 percent, and the state reported just six deaths over the Memorial Day weekend, the fewest in 38 years. Illinois' total also is off 20 percent, and Wisconsin is down about 30 percent.

Early reports show that death rates are down 20 percent in Tennessee, 22 percent in New Jersey, 13 percent in Washington state, 11 percent in Florida and 21 percent in New Mexico, where the state effort to cut alcohol-involved fatalities has resulted in a 35 percent decline in such deaths so far this year, from 83 to 54.

After the 1970s energy crisis, motor vehicle fatalities gradually increased in the 1980s as gas prices dropped and speed limits began to rise again.

But if oil futures contracts are any indication, the number of fatalities may continue falling. Despite big decreases in recent weeks, most energy traders do not foresee a long-term decline in prices.

"People aren't driving as much. We're definitely seeing a difference" in crashes, said Pam Fischer, director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety.

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New Study Reveals Truck Drivers Taking Illegal Drugs Ignore Federal Regulations

Congressional investigators say tractor-trailer and bus drivers who tested positive for illegal drugs are ignoring federal regulations by returning to work without the required treatment, in some cases transporting hazardous materials for many months.

Recently, The Associated Press obtained the Government Accountability Office survey, which details the problems involving unfit commercial drivers who can operate trucks weighing 40 tons or more. According to the GAO, 19 out of 37 commercial drivers kept quiet about their previous positive drug test in the last two years were hired elsewhere less than a month later.

Tractor-trailer or bus drivers who tested positive for cocaine, amphetamines or marijuana, passed a new pre-employment drug test either by quickly going clean or masking drug use by using products such as synthetic urine. The GAO said they then operated commercial vehicles for periods ranging from one month to over a year.

Transportation Department regulations necessitate that prospective employers request drug-testing records from previous employers, with the commercial driver's consent. But some drivers who tested positive do not go through treatment and do not disclose test results. If it does not vigorously investigate, the new company might unaware of drug use.

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn. is leading the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in looking at ways to remove unfit commercial drivers from the nation's highways. To make it easier for employers to conduct checks, one proposal would create a clearinghouse for commercial truck drivers’ drug test results.

Oberstar said that the House committee "was instrumental in creating drug and alcohol testing rules in the late 1980s, and we will not stand idly by while drug-using drivers make a mockery of them. GAO's findings just prove that we must move forward aggressively to ensure the safety of the traveling public, and this committee will introduce legislation in that pursuit."

The GAO cited the following cases:
- In May 2007 a Tennessee truck driver tested positive for cocaine. A new employer rehired him after passing a new test eight days later. Before testing positive, the driver was charged with possession of a controlled substance. For several months afterward he drove trucks containing cargo and hazardous material.
- In October 2007 an Oklahoma truck driver tested positive for marijuana and nine days later passed a new test with another company. The driver told investigators he "took appropriate measures to clean his system before applying at the second employer." According to the new employer, they were unaware of the prior drug test during the hiring and let him drive for a couple of months, but that he was now no longer working for the company.

The latest review comes after a GAO safety study disclosed by the AP earlier this month discovered hundreds of thousands of drivers who hold commercial licenses for full federal disability payments. According to that report, the Veterans Affairs Department, Labor Department or Social Security Administration determined that 563,000 commercial drivers were eligible for benefits over health issues, with alarming examples that raised doubts about the safety of the nation's highways.

House lawmakers recently scolded federal regulators for neglecting to implement recommendations made in 2001 that are aimed at keeping medically unfit commercial truck and bus drivers off the roads.

In the latest GAO study, investigators examined at data from a third-party administrator for commercial drivers who had tested positive for illegal drugs with one employer and then negative for another employer. The GAO then discovered cases over the past two years where drivers had tested negative less than a month after a positive result.

Along with motor vehicle safety, driver education helps ensure the safety of Americans. Whether you're getting your Commercial Drivers License, your Learner's Permit, or your Motorcycle License, America's Driver's License Headquarters is TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.

Government Agency Reminds Motorists That Underinflated or Old Tires Can Cause Accidents

Tires that are worn out, under-inflated, or old can raise the risk of a serious crash during hot weather, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said recently.

NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason urged motorists to have tires, including the spare, inspected before embarking on a vacation journey to reduce the risk of a crash.

"Protecting you and your family should be your top priority," Administrator Nason said. "Getting your tires checked will significantly reduce the likelihood of a tire-related crash."

According to NHTSA research, hot weather – and overloaded vehicles – can add major stress to a tire, especially if it is not properly inflated. Also under greater stress are old tires, which increase the likelihood of failure with disastrous results.

Tire condition is important for all vehicles, but even more critical for vehicles more prone to rollover when tires fail. Included in this group are sport utility vehicles (SUVs), pickups or other vehicles with a higher center of gravity.

You can check your tire’s air pressure with an inexpensive gauge, using the vehicle manufacturers’ recommended inflation, which can be found in the owner's manual or on the driver's side door pillar.

You can assess the age of your tires by checking the identification number on the sidewall that begins with the letters "DOT". The week and year the tire was manufactured are represented by last four digits.

Recommendations for replacing tires that range from six to ten years of age have been issued by some tire and vehicle manufacturers. For specific guidance, owners should check with their tire or vehicle manufacturer.

"Remember that it is vitally important to check your spare tire too," said Administrator Nason. "Your spare can be a real safety hazard if it is old or under-inflated."

For more information on proper tire care, along with NHTSA's tire rating guide, visit www.safercar.gov.

Along with motor vehicle safety, driver education helps ensure the safety of Americans. Whether you're getting your Commercial Drivers License, your Learner's Permit, or your Motorcycle License, America's Driver's License Headquarters is TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.

Follow These Tips for a Safe Trip

Air bags deploy very rapidly. Very close or direct contact with the air bag can cause serious or even fatal injury as the air bag first begins to deploy. Ensure proper seating position and proper safety restraint usage for all occupants in the vehicle.
Remember:
• Buckle your safety belt at all times.
• Your chest should be positioned about one foot from the cover of the air bag module.
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in directly in front of an air bag, unless the air bag ON-OFF switch is in the OFF position.

Children
• Never place an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle with an active front passenger air bag.
•Children age 12 and under should be properly restrained in the back seat in child safety seats, booster seats or safety belts appropriate for their age and size.
• To minimize the risk of injury, NHTSA advises that children not lean or rest against chest-only or head/chest combination side air bags (SABs).
• If there is no available rear seat and/or there is no other option than to place a child other than an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in a front passenger seating position, follow these guidelines:
•Make certain the child* is properly restrained according to their age and size,
•Move the seat as far back as possible,
•Make certain the child is not leaning out of position, such as leaning forward into the deployment path of the air bag and
•If possible set the air bag ON-OFF switch to the OFF position.
•For more information, please visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/newtips/tip9.html

Pregnant Women
The best level of protection to a pregnant woman is the combination of safety belts and air bags. Make certain she is properly belted, and the seat has been moved as far back as possible.

The lap belt should be situated low on the abdomen, below the fetus, and the shoulder belt should be worn normally. The seat belt will keep a pregnant woman from contact with the steering wheel. The air bag will help diffuse crash forces that would otherwise be concentrated by the seat belt.

Small & Elderly Adults
It is safe for smaller adults and elderly people to be seated in front of an air bag. They should be properly belted, maintaining a proper seating position, and the seat should be moved back as far back as possible.

Drivers concerned about achieving the recommended 10-inch distance between the air bag cover in the steering wheel and the driver's breastbone should ask their vehicle manufacturer about the availability of pedal extenders. If the driver still cannot comfortably achieve the 10-inch distance, an air bag ON-OFF switch may be a solution. With the introduction of advanced air bags beginning in the 2004 model year, much of the risk of an air bag-related injury is minimized and an ON-OFF switch may not be necessary.

Online courses are now available to educate drivers on the rules of the road and the latest defensive driving techniques. Try it today!

Motorists Must Stop When Pedestrians Step Into Crosswalk

In an unusual undercover operation, Officer Grace Delgado posed as a pedestrian on a busy Chicago street while fellow officers waited for drivers to race past her, in violating a law that requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, even if there is no stop sign.

In 2008, the Windy City joined a growing number of metropolises and small towns that are sending officers into traffic to make drivers be more aware of pedestrians.

"People, they don't care," said Delgado, wearing a bright pink baseball hat and orange blouse that made her particularly difficult to miss. "The whole mentality is 'Get out of my way.'"

Chicago police stopped 78 vehicles in just two hours to inform drivers that they'd just violated a law that's been on the books for years. Officers stopped only drivers who kept moving after Delgado had walked four or five feet into the road, otherwise that number easily could have been doubled.

Drivers came up with all kinds of explanations after they were pulled over: One driver saw the pedestrian in the crosswalk but was unaware of the law requiring him to stop. Another was familiar with the law, but didn't see the pedestrian.

According to the 2006 statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 4,800 pedestrians were killed and 61,000 injured. In recent years, 65 Chicago pedestrians have been struck and killed annually.

Although the number of deaths has dropped, elderly pedestrian deaths remain high, and there is concern those numbers could climb again as more vehicles take to the road.

"We're beginning to see a healthy desire of older folks to remain active and go out for their daily walks," said Doug Hecox, spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration. "That, along with more cars ... is a recipe for danger."

As the economy continues to struggle, "The way gas prices are, people are rediscovering their feet," said Pam Fischer, highway traffic safety director in New Jersey. The Garden State recently launched a "Cops in the Crosswalks" program.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, most motorists were miffed to find themselves pulled over. "It was too late for me to get on the brakes," said Roland Sapitula.

Louis Ramirez, 84, said he wouldn't have stopped, even if he had seen Delgado. "There's no sign out there," he said. "I (do) not have to stop."

Officers lectured motorists about the law, and then sent drivers on their way. But according to police, the only thing more effective than a lecture from a police officer is a ticket.

"If there's really no threat of getting a ticket for it, you're not going to really pay attention," said officer Chuck Trendle, who was on duty with Delgado.

Authorities "tried the educational route for years," said Paul Loriquet, spokesman for the Essex County, N.J. prosecutor's office. "But until you hit somebody in the wallet, it doesn't stick."

Indeed, in Bellingham, Washington, after the city started a police-decoy program in 2002, the percentage of motorists who yielded to pedestrians grew at least 25 percent - even at corners where tickets were not being issued.

The results in St. Petersburg, Florida, were even more noticeable. After police began writing tickets, educating the public and installing flashing beacons, the percentage of motorists who yielded to pedestrians spiked from 2 percent in 2003 to 82 percent in 2007. Between 2005 and 2006 pedestrian crashes dropped 17 percent.

"It starts putting pedestrians on their radar," said Ron Van Houten, a Western Michigan University psychology professor who has studied pedestrian safety and trained police personnel around the nation, including Chicago.

According to police, undercover pedestrians will focus attention on crosswalk safety the same way that giving tickets for seat belt violations convinced more people to buckle up in the 1980s.

"Eventually, people get it," Trendle said.

Along with motor vehicle safety, driver education helps ensure the safety of Americans. Whether you're getting your Commercial Drivers License, your Learner's Permit, or your Motorcycle License, America's Driver's License Headquarters is TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.

New Study Reveals Reverse of Up to One-Third Annual Deaths

For some drivers, high gas prices could turn out to be a lifesaver. Professors Michael Morrisey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and David Grabowski of Harvard Medical School say that gas prices are causing driving declines that could amount to a third fewer auto deaths each year, with the biggest drop likely to be among teen drivers.

The researchers say they found that for every 10 percent increase in gas prices there was a 2.3 percent decline in auto deaths. For those who drive between ages 15 to 17, the decline was 6 percent, and ages 18 to 21 saw a 3.2 percent decline.

Their study examined deaths from 1985 to 2006, when gas prices climbed to about $2.50 a gallon. Morrisey said he expects to see much greater drop - about 1,000 deaths a month – now that gas prices average more than $4 a gallon.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Morrisey said that annual auto deaths typically ranging from about 38,000 to 40,000 a year would drop by nearly a third, to 12,000 deaths per year.

"I think there is some silver lining here in higher gas prices in that we will see a public health gain," said Grabowski. He then cautioned that their estimated decline of 1,000 deaths a month could be offset somewhat by the recent move to smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient cars and an increase in motorcycle and scooter use.

According to Morrisey, the study also found the "same kind of symmetry" between gas prices and auto deaths when prices go down.

"When that happens we drive more, we drive bigger cars, we drive faster and fatalities are higher," he said.

In an earlier study that covered 1983 to 2000, a nearly identical relationship was found between gas prices and auto deaths. The studies used figures compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, whose figures for 2007 have yet to be released.

In response to rising gas prices, the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, Clarence Ditlow, said it makes sense that auto deaths would decline as driving decreases.

"There are a whole bunch of factors that are influenced by higher gasoline prices - teenagers don't have as much money, so you have the most risky drivers driving less; people are switching out of the bigger, older more dangerous vehicles, and people also know if they drive slower they're going to save gasoline," Ditlow said. "So, from a societal viewpoint, higher gasoline prices have a great number of benefits, and one of the most important benefits is fewer traffic fatalities."

However, Ditlow added that he would be "delighted and amazed" to see deaths drop by a third. He said the declines in driving, while record setting, still aren't dramatic enough to suggest such a dramatic drop is imminent.

Recently, the Department of Transportation said that Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April, marking the sixth month in a row that driving was down. This is a historic turnaround, after decades of annual increases in driving.

"We're out there on a limb a little bit," Morrisey admitted, "but given that we get such consistent stories across the two time periods (in both studies) with somewhat different methodology, they seem to be pretty robust estimates."

Morrisey and Grabowski’s findings were presented to a meeting of the American Society of Health Economists in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., last month. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation made the study possible.

Online courses are now available to educate drivers on the rules of the road and the latest defensive driving techniques. Try it today!

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Announces Improvements to Ratings Tests

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters recently announced that under a new plan to improve the federal government's automobile crash tests and strengthen its five-star vehicle safety rating system, consumers will have better, more complete safety information about the vehicles they want to purchase.

"Knowing how many horses a car engine has is important, but knowing how safe a car is before you even step into a dealership ought to be essential," said Secretary Peters. "We want to make sure consumers can easily take safety into consideration when choosing a new vehicle, along with price, fuel efficiency, size and the color they like best."

For the first time, under the improvements to the five-star safety rating program, vehicles beginning with model year 2010 will be given an overall safety rating that combines results from frontal, side and rollover tests. Secretary Peters said the upgraded system will also include new frontal crash tests, and a new side pole test to simulate crashing a vehicle around a tree. Female crash dummies will be added to the tests, so women and larger children are represented, and new testing for leg injuries will be done, said the Secretary.

Secretary Peters said that for the first time, a new rating on emerging advanced technologies will be added so shoppers will know whether specific crash avoidance technologies—specifically electronic stability control, lane departure warning systems and forward collision warning systems—are standard or optional features on new vehicles.

"Enhanced Government Safety Ratings are intended to further the continuous advancement of vehicle safety," said National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator, Nicole R. Nason. "In addition to providing important information to consumers, the ratings encourage vehicle manufacturers to continue to design vehicles that reach an even higher level of safety."

The NHTSA performs rollover and crash tests on new cars and trucks every year, and assigns them a safety rating available on the window label of new vehicles. For nearly 30 years, the five star safety rating system has become the starting point for major safety improvements to new vehicle design. For more information on upgrades to the Government Safety Ratings System, visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/Rulemaking/Rules/Associated%20Files/NCAP_Final_Notice_July_08.pdf.

Online courses are now available to educate drivers on the rules of the road and the latest defensive driving techniques. Try it today!