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Seat belts, Alcohol, and Illinois Traffic Fatalities

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the state as a whole have a lot to be proud of. The number of fatal automobile accidents in 2008 reached its lowest figure in 85 years making 2008 the safest year for automobile travel in Illinois since 1923. The significant increase in safety is surely the result of an increased effort on the part of the state to educate people on the benefits of wearing a seat belt, the department’s proactive measures to enforce the “click-it or ticket” campaign as well as a sustained law enforcement crackdown on drunk driving.

Represented graphically, the results of these efforts are striking:

Figure 1, represents the number of traffic fatalities per 100 million miles traveled by vehicles. For example, on average in 1988, for every 100 million miles driven in Illinois, 2.4 individuals were killed in a traffic accident. Contrast this with the figure recently calculated for 2008. On average in 2008, for every 100 million miles driven in Illinois, .99 individuals were killed in a traffic accident. That is less than 1 fatality per 100 million miles, a first for Illinois since 1923 when the number of vehicles on the road were an insignificant fraction of the number we have today.

In addition, Illinois has been below the current national average of 1.27 fatalities per 100 million miles since 2004. The Department of Transportation maintains that “the main contributing factors to the reduction in the fatality rate continue to be the effective impaired driving safety belt campaigns.” This claim becomes significantly more salient when represented graphically and compared to Figure 1.

First, note the significant drop in fatalities where the driver responsible for the accident was driving under the influence of alcohol:

Given that traffic fatalities involving alcohol represent nearly half of all traffic related fatalities, it is clear that an increased effort to control impaired driving results in a simultaneous drop in the fatality rate. In addition, increased awareness over the last couple of decades of the safety benefits of wearing a seat belt in addition to new laws requiring their use has resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of passengers and drivers who wear a seat belt. This increase in active driver and passenger safety measures has contributed to the drop in traffic fatalities over the same period.

Note the dramatic increase in seat belt use in Illinois since 1985:

We should note that at this time, data on seat belt use is available for 2009 while data for alcohol related accidents as well as the cumulative fatality rate has not yet been published. Therefore, for comparison purposes, we have indicated the lowest seat belt use rate (1985) in red and the highest rate as of 2008 (which, coincidentally was 2008) in green. In addition, we have indicated the 2009 rate (which was higher than 2008) in blue. If we draw correlative inferences across Figures 1 – 3, we should expect the 2009 traffic fatality rate to be less than 2008 and, therefore, at a new low.

What does it all mean?

As a state, we obviously have a lot to be proud of. We have collectively worked to reduce our traffic fatality rate to a figure below the national average. What is more, we have done this responsibly by reducing the number of drunk drivers on the road and increasing the percentage of drivers and passengers who wear seat belts. Yet, the bottom line is still too high.

Drunk drivers still cause almost half of the traffic related fatalities in Illinois annually. It is a tragic figure because these accidents are accidents that could have and should have been avoided. As long as we drive automobiles, there will be unavoidable accidents. Yet, accidents caused by drunk drivers are not unavoidable. Further, even if the driver responsible for a fatal crash is not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, accidents caused by negligence or a total disregard for the safety of others are just as illegal, despicable and avoidable. Any fatality figure in this category larger than 0 is too high.

If you have sustained injuries, or lost a loved one, in an automobile accident in any city, town or county of Illinois then you need legal representation to make sure that your legal interests are protected.  Contact the experienced Illinois automobile accident lawyers of Dolan Law Offices for answers to your legal questions and to protect your rights.