A lower number of people dying in car accidents could be related to a slower economy, according to recent government report.The national death rate of people killed in roadway crashes decreased in 2008 by 10.7 percent compared to 2007, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. And Louisiana highway fatalties decreased 8.7 percent.The report showed 40 out of the 44 states who responded to the survey have seen a decrease in fatality crashes during this time period.”The economy has been a major factor, but we think there are other factors,” said Barbara Harsha, Governors Highway Safety Association executive director.The decrease began from 2006 to 2007 but the numbers weren’t a drastic change until 2008, Harsha said. Before 2007, the numbers were fairly consistent for a decade between 40,000 and 43,000 national highway deaths per year, she said.Because the numbers have decreased in the last year and a half as the economy has started to have problems, the association is looking into a cause being related to less people driving to save money, Harsha said.Jim Dickerson, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission assistant director, said Louisiana reported 907 highway-related deaths during the last calendar year. In 2007, 993 deaths were reported.The numbers for 2008 have not been collected yet, but last year the commission’s office reported licensed Louisiana drivers traveled 454 million miles, Dickerson said.The price of gas plays a role in impacting how much drivers are traveling, he said.Don Redman, American Automobile Association public affairs specialist, said drivers may be slowing down to save on gas, and it’s impacting the amount of crashes.The most fuel-efficient speeds are between 60 and 70 miles per hour, he said.Another major factor in the decrease could be law enforcers imposing strict safety laws including seat belt laws, Dickerson said.Out of all those killed on the highway, 64 percent were not wearing a seatbelt, he said.”That’s one of the key factors of becoming a fatality as opposed to an injury,” Dickerson said.Louisiana Highway Safety Commissions works with about 80 law enforcement agencies and state police who have kept enforcment levels high for seatbelt laws, Dickerson said.Massachusetts showed the largest decrease of highway deaths at 28.5 percent, and Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming were the only reported states with an increase in fatalities.
 
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