The rate of fatalities on U.S. roads hit an all-time low in 2008 of 1.28 per 100 million miles driven, representing a 9.1 percent decline. This resulted in the lowest number of deaths on American roads since 1961, when 36,285 lives were lost, according to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Americans drove less overall in 2008, but that doesn’t explain the declining fatality rate. Rather, safer cars and increasing seatbelt usage can be credited with the improvement.
“Lower fatalities and higher seat belt use are trends we want to see,” said Secretary LaHood. “States like Michigan are raising the bar on seat belt use, making communities safer and keeping families intact.”
In Michigan, the belt use rate was 97.2 percent in 2008. By contrast, Massachusetts was 66.8 percent. The survey shows that jurisdictions with primary belt laws continue to exhibit higher use rates than those with weaker laws. In Maine, for example, belt use increased from 79.8 percent to 83 percent a year after the state enacted a primary seat belt law.
A total of sixteen states and territories achieved use rates of 90 percent or higher. Those states are Michigan, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Maryland, Iowa, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, Delaware, Indiana, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, Illinois and the District of Columbia. The states with the lowest use rates, all below 70 percent, were Massachusetts, Wyoming and New Hampshire.
