THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 7, 1997 TAG: 9701070256
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 41 lines
For the second straight year, highway fatalities in Virginia have declined, according to preliminary statistics from the 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 O. 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 was above 1992's 839 deaths, for example. But it was well below the 1,118 deaths recorded in 1986.
The decline was remarkable considering a growing number of 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 over the past decade, roughly 3 percent 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. ``Airbags, 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 efforts and safe-driving promotions of private groups and the federal government.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITIES