Ind. Traffic Fatalities Show Decline in 2006

Preliminary statistics show that the number of fatalities on Indiana’s roadways this year has dropped significantly from 2005, according to data from the Indiana State Police (ISP). Through Dec. 22, there have been 81 fewer fatalities compared to the same period in 2005.

“Causality is complex, but a nearly 10 percent drop is probably more than good luck. Motorists should know we’re going to keep adding troopers to the road, because every fatality is a tragedy. We’ve had a better year, but let’s close the year safely,” said Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Through Dec. 22, Indiana law enforcement agencies reported 845 fatalities on Indiana’s roadways. For the comparable period a year ago, there were 926. According to state police, there have been 75 fewer crashes on Indiana roadways through December 22 of this year compared to the same period a year ago (769 through Dec. 22, 2006; 844 for same period of 2005).

Among efforts employed to make Indiana’s roads safer this year are rigorous enforcement, public education programs, roadway safety improvements, and additional selected funding for traffic safety initiatives.

For example, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) targeted seat belt and alcohol issues in specific high fatality counties. Results show that 37 Indiana counties in which 70 percent of the state’s traffic fatalities occurred in the last three years were identified as eligible for special grants. Of those counties, ten applied for and received additional funding for targeted and data-driven enforcement efforts.

From Oct. 1, 2005 to Sept. 30, 2006, those ten counties had an average reduction in fatalities of 8.3 percent, compared to less than a half percent reduction in fatalities for those counties that did not receive additional funding. The ten targeted counties had 83 fewer fatalities as of Nov. 1, 2006, compared to the same time period in 2005.

Source: Indiana State Police