'91 ROAD DEATHS HIT 8-YEAR LOW

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 3, 1992                   TAG: 9201030118
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short
'91 ROAD DEATHS HIT 8-YEAR LOW
In 1991, Virginia recorded its lowest number of traffic deaths in eight years, state police said Thursday.
According to preliminary figures, 931 people lost their lives last year on Virginia roadways, 138 fewer than in 1990.
In 1983, there were 900 traffic deaths reported.
"While it is difficult to determine precisely why there are more or fewer highway fatalities from one year to the next, we know that most of the credit and/or blame must be given to the motoring public," said Col. W.F. Corvello, superintendent of the state police.
"Safe drivers are the key to fewer fatalities," he said.
He described safe drivers as those who drive defensively, use safety belts, do not drink and drive and obey the speed limit.
Corvello also said some credit should be given to several programs launched by the state police last year. Those included the use of radar-detector detectors to discourage motorists from using radar detectors and special patrols on sections of highway with high volumes of traffic.
Authorities said five people were killed on Virginia's highways during the Christmas holiday counting period from 6 p.m. Dec. 24 through midnight Dec. 25. One traffic fatality was reported over the New Year's holiday, which began 6 p.m. Tuesday and ended Wednesday at midnight.
Because both holidays fell on a Wednesday, the reporting periods were not comparable with reporting periods for previous years.
No traffic deaths were reported on the first day of 1992, unlike New Year's Day 1991, when two people were killed.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB