Ark. Traffic Deaths Rise as Nationwide Average Drops in 2006

Deaths from traffic crashes in Arkansas slightly increased last year, as the nationwide average dropped, new federal statistics show.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration recorded 665 fatal crashes in 2006 in Arkansas, up from 654 in 2005. Nationwide, traffic deaths dropped from 43,510 in 2005 to 42,642 in 2006 – a historic low.

“You would expect crashes to vary from year to year,” said Ann McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “In Arkansas, it was an increase of 11 people, but that could be two SUVs. It was due to chance and not anything else.”

However, motorcycle and alcohol-related crashes continued to rise nationwide. Alcohol-related fatalities jumped slightly in 2006 over the previous year, while motorcycle deaths increased by 5.1 percent. The agency has reported an increase in motorcycle deaths for nine straight years.

“Proper training, clothing, gear and, above all, helmet use are essential to reversing this deadly trend,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said in a statement.

Teresa Belew, head of the Arkansas office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said she isn’t surprised that Arkansas traffic fatalities didn’t decline. She blamed the state’s lack of a primary seat-belt law and a coordinated trauma care system.

“Until that happens, it’s not likely we will have the same sort of success that other states are having,” Belew said. “We will continue to lose ground.”

Under state law, motorists must be stopped for another traffic offense before they can be cited for not wearing a seat belt. Public health officials pushed for a statewide trauma care system in the Legislature earlier this year without success.

“The statistics represent more than numbers to the surviving family members and loved ones of those killed in accidents. There is a personal story behind these statistics,” said Nicole Nason, administrator for the federal agency.

Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, www.arkansasonline.com.