ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 7, 1997 TAG: 9701070067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
For the second straight year, highway fatalities in Virginia have declined, according to preliminary statistics from the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
The numbers show 860 people died on state roads last year, compared with 900 in 1995 and 925 in 1994.
However, David McAllister, head of the Virginia Crash Investigation Team, said a longer period is needed before a trend can be declared.
``You can't go year by year,'' McAllister said. ``You have to look at three years minimum, five preferred.''
Last year's total exceeded 1992's 839 deaths, for example, but was well below the 1,118 deaths recorded in 1986.
The decline was remarkable considering the increase in miles driven on state roads each year and higher speeds, as indicated by an increased number of speeding violations, McAllister said.
``There's no question about it,'' he said. ``People are driving faster than last year, the year before that and the year before that.''
The number of miles driven in the state has been increasing slowly but steadily for a decade - roughly 3percent more each year, McAllister said.
The decrease in deaths can be attributed to a combination of factors, he said.
``We have safer, newer and better cars,'' he said. ``Air bags, ABS [anti-lock] brakes - even though they both have been slammed lately, they both save lives and prevent crashes. We clearly have more people buckling up over the past years.''
Nearly 70 percent of drivers and front-seat passengers are using safety belts, he said.
``There are newer roads and better-built roads, with safer design engineering aspects than ever before,'' McAllister said.
He also credited law enforcement, and private-groups and federal safe-driving promotions.
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB