The Associated Press reports that highway deaths are continuing to fall in 2009, and haven’t been seen at such low levels since 1961. There was a nine percent decline in highway deaths in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008.
Experts have attributed the declines to the recession, record-high seat-belt use and fewer people driving. Some highway safety experts have also attributed the decrease to the crackdown on drunk driving and speeding that many states are pushing. However, with state funds being low, it’s not likely that such high levels of enforcement can continue for long.
At any rate, we’ll take the decrease in fatalities happily, while continuing to note that seat-belts, air bags, and awareness are the real keys to a safe highway trip.
