As fuel prices rise, highway deaths fall

County numbers

While fatalities from traffic accidents are down statewide, the total is up so far this year in Douglas County.

Seven people have died from injuries suffered in seven separate accidents in Douglas County through the end of September of this year, according to reports compiled by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Four of the fatalities were drivers of motorcycles; another man who died had been riding a bicycle.

Not yet included in the state’s database is the death of KU student Neil Hockenbarger, who died in a one-car accident Thursday on Michigan Street north of the Kansas Turnpike.

During the first nine months of 2007, there were six fatalities from five accidents, the department said. The total includes the deaths of two construction workers who were killed Sept. 11 after being struck by a speeding vehicle as they worked on U.S. Highway 59 south of Lawrence.

Chris Bortz would like to remind everyone that there’s a bright side to those spiraling gasoline prices that have been draining our wallets this year.

More people are driving safely on Kansas roads.

That’s because the latest price acceleration – including the record push past $4 per gallon over the summer – has spurred people to drive fewer miles, and at lower speeds, said Bortz, assistant chief for the state’s Bureau of Traffic Safety.

And that means fewer accidents statewide, at least those causing fatalities.

“The biggest thing with the gas prices: People have just slowed down,” Bortz said. “They’re better drivers.”

Using data reported through the Kansas Highway Patrol, the bureau found that 252 people died on Kansas roads during the first nine months of the year, Bortz said. That’s down 21 percent from the 305 fatalities reported during the first three quarters of 2007.

The price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Kansas averaged $3.46 during the first nine months of this year, according to AAA. That was up 27 percent from the average of $2.72 through September of 2007.

Despite a recent decline in gasoline prices – Thursday’s average price statewide was $3.32, down from $3.64 a month ago, according to AAA – Bortz is counting on drivers to continue curtailing their driving, easing up on the accelerator and buckling up when they get behind the wheel.

“We’re still hopeful that people will continue to be safer drivers and continue to slow down,” he said.

Lt. Kari Wempe, of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, found the state’s research comforting, particularly as it regards use of seat belts.

A full 84 percent of Douglas County residents regularly wear their seat belts, according to state-conducted seat belt surveys conducted in June. The state compiled data for 20 counties, representing 85 percent of the state’s population.

Only Leavenworth County, with 86 percent of drivers buckling up, scored higher.

“Everybody’s finally understanding that it’s just like checking the mirrors and adjusting the seats,” Wempe said, of a driver’s typical get-behind-the-wheel routine. “You put your seat belt on. It’s a habit, and it’s a great habit to be in.”

The state also reported last year’s data for seat belt use among people involved in accidents that caused fatalities or injuries. Statewide, 80 percent of such victims were buckled up, compared with a Douglas County average of 89 percent.

“That’s a great thing,” Bortz said. “Of course, we’d love to see that number in the nineties.”

But he’s not complaining.

“Lower fatals, higher seat belt rates – that’s a bonus for everybody,” Bortz said.