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Show Low Traffic Death Predicted On Utah's Highways In 1980 A recent report by the Utah Highway Safety Division showed for the 1979 calendar year there were 287 fatal crashes which resulted in 328 deaths, a 12.8-percent decrease in the number of deaths over 1978. The 1979 number of Utah traffic fatalities is undesirable, but the decrease over 1978 is a triumph for Utah Highway Safety. It's expected 1980 will be another low traffic death year In Utah. The analysis of fatal vehicle crashes in Utah from 1973 through 1979 was compiled by'Stephen W. Glines who derived his results from accident data that was coded, keypunched, edited, and maintained on the Univac 1108 computer at the University of Utah Computer Center by the Utah Highway Safety Office. The report showed that the first energy crisis of the 1970's and associated events affected decreased fatalities for over four years until 1978 ; the collapse of the traditional government in Iran and associated events had a short-lived impact on fatalities (about six months); the decreased availability of fuel, the Energy Program, higher fuel prices, and associated events resulted in a substantial decrease in . fatalities in Utah in 1979. It's estimated the number of fatalities in Utah would have been 418 if these events hadn't occurred, whereas the actual number was 328, an adjusted decrease of 90. The fourth result shown by the report was that an estimated 10-percent adjusted reduction of miles traveled in Utah occurred for 1979, as opposed to previous annual increases. The report reasoned of the total reduction of 90 fatalities, 44 percent were due to reduced travel and 56-percent were due to other variables related to highway safety (speed reduction, travel patterns, and other factors.) A fifth result shown by the report indicated there would have been an estimated 647 fatalities in Utah in 1979 if the conditions existing prior to 1974 (no energy shortage) had continued. The actual number of fatalities in 1979 (328) amounts to an almost 50-percent reduction over the projected number. While it was not scientifically possible to breakdown the reduced number of fatalities among the various safety factors such as enforcement of the 55 mph speed limit, energy saving programs, travel patterns, public information and others, it was felt the totality of these effects accounted for more than half the reduction. Geographically, Utah's crashes were concentrated along the Wasatch Front, with 19-percent of the 1979 fatal crashes occurring in nine major cities along the front. During the same year, 18.2-percent of all fatal crashes occurred on the interstate system, 44.1-percent on other U.S. and state routes, and 37.7-percent of the fatal crashes occurring on local and county traf-ficways. For fatal crashes, 19.6-percent of all drivers were from out of state in 1979, an increase of 2.6-percent over 1978. During the last seven years, Saturday has been the worst day of the week with 19.5-percent of all fatal crashes, with the worst time of day being during the evening rush hours and late in the evening. Environmental conditions were reported to have contributed to 14.2-percent of 1979 fatal crashes and vehicle defects were reported to have contributed to 7-percent. According to the report, 39-percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes were under 24 years of age. Since this age group of drivers makes up 29 percent of the licensed drivers in Utah, they were over represented in fatal crashes. Younger males make up 16 percent of the licensed drivers, but were involved in 33.6-percent of the fatal crashes, showing even greater over involvement. Surprisingly, statistics indicated only two percent of passengers, victims in fatal crashes, were wearing seat belts, indicating a substantial potential for injury severity reduction by increasing seat belt usage among vehicle passengers. There were 70 pedestrian traffic deaths in 1979, making it the worst pedestrian death year in Utah's history, an increase of 67-percent over 1978, occurring mostly in the urban areas along the Wasatch Front. The report summarizes driver behavior in Utah is a predominant cause of fatal crashes with speeding noted as a leading contributing circumstance of fatal injuries in traffic crashes. Drinking was also noted as a contributing factor for about 24- percent of the drivers at the time the accident report was completed. In 1979, 40-percent of the crashes were alcohol related in which at least one driver or pedestrian had been drinking. Accident records revealed that 36-percent 'of all alcohol related fatal crashes occurred between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., with 75-percent of all occurring during the dark hours. In all alcohol related crashes, 45-percent of the vehicles were traveling over 55 mph. The drivers in 1979 alcohol-related crashes were young, with 65-percent under 30 years old, and 16 percent under 21. The vehicles tended to be older and 32-percent of them were pickup trucks in 1979 alcohol related crashes. An analysis of drinking driver profiles compared to non-drinking driver profiles shows that unlicensed drivers, young male drivers, and speeding drivers are over represented in the drinking driver population. It was also found that 8.8-percent of the drinking drivers involved in 1979 fatal crashes had at least one DUI (driving under the influence) conviction on record compared to 5.6-percent of all drivers in the state, indicating that problem drinkers are over involved in fatal crashes. In Utah the most often noted contributing factor for drivers involved In fatal crashes is excessive speed. Out-of-state drivers are over represented among the group of drivers traveling at excessive speeds at the time of involvement in fatal accidents. During 1979, out-of-state drivers accounted for 21-percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes. Drivers with previous or current license suspensions or revocations were also highly involved in fatal crashes, as were those with previous DUI convictions. More than half of the drivers contributing to 1979 fatal crash occurrences by excessive speed were under 26 years of age. Since these young drivers were involved in 46.3-percent of the total fatal crashes in Utah during 1979, they are over represented in the speed related category of crashes. During the past seven years, 71-percent of the fatal crashes involving excessive speed have occurred in rural areas, and 74-percent have occurred on the state road system. The report points out that the 55 mph speed limit was implemented in 1974, along with the existent energy crisis. The greatest reductions in the fatality rate occurred on the interstate, federal aid primary, and urban federal aid systems. The report noted it was reasonable to conclude the greatest reductions in fatal crash incidents have occurred on these systems since 1974, and that future increases in speeds and speed variation will most likely occur on these road systems assuming any such future increase in speeds would result in increased . fatalities. |