According to an article by AP reporter Mark Williams, high gas prices are causing traffic deaths to drop. The National Safety Council reports a 9 percent drop in motor vehicle deaths overall through May compared with the first five months of 2007, including a drop of 18 percent in March and 14 percent in April.

Fatality rates have stable over the last 15 years - totaling 42,642 in 2006. Other factors that may contribute to the safer roads include police stepping up their pursuit of speeders and drunken drivers, better teen-licensing programs, safer vehicles and winter weather that kept many drivers at home. The Governors Highway Safety Association also says seat belt use is probably at record levels.

Some states have reported declines of 20 percent or more. Hopefully Georgia is among the states experiencing safer roadways.

Labels: auto accident, Georgia, traffic wreck