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Show Local states rate highest in highway deaths "This means when the drunk driver has an accident, he usually involves another vehicle and somebody else is forced to suffer the consequences of this carelessness," Guerts said. The measure used in gauging fatality rate is the number of fatalities per 100 million vehicles miles travelled. - The Intermountain States have the highest fatality rate nationwide. A recent study conducted by the Utah Department Depart-ment of Transportation Safety Engineer Arthur Geurts points out that the fatality rate of the Intermountain area differs significantly from that of the remaining states. The results of the study point out that single vehicle accidents are not a major cause of the high fatality rate in these Intermountain In-termountain states. Only 20 percent of Utah's fatalities are the result of single vehicle accidents. ac-cidents. This means the hich fatality rate for the local areas must be caused by some other factor. Geurts is presently investigating in-vestigating all possible contributing con-tributing factors. "When we discover why the fatality rate is so high in the j Intermountain States, Geurts ' said, "we can do something to fight the problem. In order to do this, we must thoroughly investigate in-vestigate all possible contributing con-tributing factors until we can determine the major cause." The study also turned up some interesting findings in other areas. For instance, Utah's fatality rate is very near the national norm. Utah has next to the lowest rate ranking within the Intermountain States, but has the nineteenth highest fatality rate in the nation. Mr. Geurts contributes this "favorable" ranking to Utah's safety program. "Utah is Very progressive and has a comprehensive com-prehensive safety program." he said. "Utah drivers are also conscientious." New Mexico has the highest fatality rate in the nation and Idaho follows with a close second. Rhode Island has the lowest fatality rate nationwide. The study also points out that, although over 50 percent of Utah's auto accidents are related to alcohol and drug use, only 23 percent of these are single 1 vehicle accidents. |