LITTLE ROCK (10-8) – Motor vehicle crashes are a greater threat to life in the United States than murder. In 2002, there was one murder every 33 minutes while there was one traffic-related fatality every 12 minutes. Every day motor vehicle crashes cause an average of 116 fatalities, totaling more than 42,815 over the course of a year.  Nationwide, the third annual Put The Brakes On Fatalities Day will be celebrated on October 10th, 2003 to encourage the public to take greater precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones from becoming one of those statistics.  Locally in addition to Governor Mike Huckabee’s proclamation of October 10th as Put The Brakes on Fatalities Day in Arkansas, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) and the Arkansas State Police (ASP) are backing the cause as well.

The goal is to unite the country in achieving one full day of zero traffic deaths by encouraging safer behavior and actions and by promoting safer roadways. “Motor vehicle fatalities are the leading cause of death for all Americans from 6 to 33 years old. Whether a newly licensed or experienced driver, we should focus all of our attention on the task of driving when behind the wheel,” said Dan Flowers, AHTD Director.  “In spite of fewer Interstate and highway miles under construction compared to last year, now is not the time to become complacent or lose focus on the importance of safe driving in Arkansas.  We still have a record amount of Interstate construction underway combined with one of the highest number of miles driven each year per vehicle,” added Flowers.

Arkansas’ Interstate highway system includes 466 miles classified as rural and 189 miles classified as urban based on the surrounding population.  Safety-conscious travelers should take special notice of the different characteristics and driving strategies needed in both urban and rural work zones.  Nationally in 2001, the number of fatal work zone crashes occurring on rural Interstates was nearly 30 percent greater than the number of fatal crashes on urban Interstates.

Longer distances in rural areas may encourage faster speeds and be more likely to catch inattentive drivers off guard, making accidents more lethal.  While rural work zones may be fewer and farther apart, lane closures often span longer distances with construction areas and travel lanes separated only by rows of orange barrels.  Although urban areas may offer more lighting and reduced speed limits, motorists often have less room to drive through and more distractions in the midst of high traffic volumes and narrowed, shifting lanes edged by concrete barrier walls with no shoulders.  

The good news is that by taking pro-active steps, the public can greatly reduce the odds of becoming a statistic. "First and foremost, drive as if your life depends on it," said Colonel Don Melton, Director of the Arkansas State Police.  "Driving defensively while maintaining adequate room to react, obeying posted speed limits and slowing down for bad weather, work zones and school zones are just a few driving tips to reduce the chances of being in a crash.  The single most important thing you can do is to wear your safety belt and make sure that everyone else in the vehicle is buckled up too.  According to Arkansas law, all children under the age of six or sixty pounds should be properly restrained in child safety seats,” added Melton.

Put The Brakes On Fatalities Day promotes:

• Safer driving behaviors.
  Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that lap/shoulder seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger vehicle occupants by 45 percent.  Child safety seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. Yet only 79% of Americans and 63% of Arkansans buckle up.  Even more troubling, 61 percent of children ages 15 and under killed in motor vehicle crashes in 1999 were completely unrestrained. Another troubling statistic is that 38 percent of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. Imagine this: 44 of those 116 people killed every day in traffic crashes could be saved this October 10^th if all drivers did not drink and drive.
• Safer driving environments.
  Deteriorated road conditions and obsolete designs contribute to more than 15,000 highway deaths annually. This is why Arkansas is in the process of rehabilitating over 350 miles of our 655-mile Interstate system.  Be especially alert this October 10^th for Interstate work zone locations as well as narrow roads and bridges, narrow shoulders that end in steep slopes or ditches and no passing zones along winding highways. The AHTD is implementing a variety of roadway design improvements, such as widening lanes, adding rumble strips, and innovative striping and reflectors to enhance roadway safety on Arkansas’ highway system.
• Safer vehicles.
  In 1999, Americans traveled nearly 2.7 trillion miles in the more than 200 million registered vehicles on U.S. roads. Proper vehicle maintenance plays an important role in reducing crashes. Check your tires for proper inflation pressure, tread wear and alignment. Winterize your vehicle if you live in a cold climate. Replace worn windshield wipers. If your vehicle has antilock brakes, operate them correctly by “stomping and steering” rather than pumping them. If you are buying a vehicle, consider safety devices and safety ratings as a top priority. Check out the NHTSA Web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov for vehicle safety ratings.

For more traffic safety tips and information, log on to the Put The Brakes On Fatalities Day Web site at www.brakesonfatalites.org.

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