AUTO ACCIDENTS ON INCREASE; MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES UP IN MISSOURI, DOWN IN ILLINOIS

Traffic accidents and fatalities on state roads were up in Missouri and down in Illinois in 1997.

However, the two states share a common statistic: Interstate fatalities were up. The accidents which did occur were deadlier.

"The accidents are more severe," said a spokesman of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The traffic safety experts are hesitant to place the blame for more interstate accidents solely on speed.

Speed is just one of a host of factors that contribute to death in highway crashes, but by no means is it the only factor, he said.

Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs, people not wearing seat belts, aggressive driving, and failure to properly maintain vehicles all contribute to deaths on the road.

However, increased usage of air bags, seat belts and campaigns against driving while drinking have helped keep national fatality rates relatively stable since Congress repealed the nationwide 55-mile-per-hour speed limit in 1995.

Total accidents were up more than 3 percent in Missouri, or about 600 more accidents, from 191,164 in 1996, to 191,765 last year.

Fatalities were also up 3 percent in Missouri, from 1,148 in 196 to 1,192 in 1997.

Travel is increasing, said Vicki Hess, with the traffic division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jefferson City.

Seat belts -- or the lack of them -- was a contributing factor in many fatal accidents in the state. Seat belts were not used by drivers in 444 Missouri fatal accidents last year, said Hess.

Fatal accidents on Missouri interstates were up about one percent, with 200 deaths in 1997, up from 198 in 1966.

Traffic fatalities in southeast Missouri totaled 111 in 1997.

Fatalities were down in Illinois, but Interstate accidents were up, by 9 percent.

Traffic fatalities on Illinois streets and highways decreased by 5 percent last year according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"The numbers were encouraging, said Kirk Brown, IDOT secretary.

A total of 1,401 fatalities were record in Illinois in 1996, compared to 1,477 in 1997. Interstate accidents claimed 175 lives last year, six more than in 1996.

A total of 41 fatal crashes were recorded in the lower seven counties of Illinois, headed by Williamson and Jackson counties, with 13 and 10 deaths respectively.

"We need to continue to invest in improvements to our highways," said Brown. That means removing drinking drivers from our streets and roads, and emphasizing our education programs about continued use of safety belts, he said.

Brown said he was encouraged in the decrease in the number of crashes and fatalities involving motorcycles.

"We've been conducting motorcycle training courses around the state," said Brown. Motorcycles crashes declined 20 percent in 1997.

Traffic accidents and fatalities also decreased in other categories in Illinois.

Pedestrian fatalities decreased, railroad crossing fatalities were down, and large truck fatalities decreased, despite the increase in overall number of crashes involving the big vehicles.

Brown urges motorists to slow down and use caution in construction work zones.

"We had a significant increase in work zone crashes in 1997," said Brown. In 1996, 28 accidents and 31 deaths were reported in work zones. The 1997 totals soared to 38 crashes and 33 deaths.

"We've added some heavier penalties here," said Brown, adding that fines for speeding in work zones have been doubled. And, more state police are being used to monitor traffic in work zones.

Bicycle crashes and death were up in the state. There were 35 accidents and 35 fatals, compared to 29 in 1996.

Another statistic improved in Illinois. Travel in 1997 increased about 1.2 percent, to an estimated total of 97.7 billion vehicle miles of travel.

The state's fatality rate, which is based on travel, is projected at 1.4 death per 100 million vehicle miles of travel -- a decrease form the 1996 rate of 1.6.

Increased travel usually results in more exposure of motorists to crashes, injuries and fatalities.

On the national front, more 16-year-old drivers are dying in car accidents, prompting one insurance group to call for limits on the privileges of America's youngest drivers.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which analyzed fatal accident reports between 1975 and 1996, reported this week that the death rate for 16-year-olds nearly doubled, from 19 per 100,000 licensed drivers in 1975 to 35 per 100,000 in 1996.

At the same time, the overall number of deaths declined, from 15 per 100,000 in 1975 to 12 deaths per 100,000 in 1996.

The insurance institute, which is financed by insurance companies, urged more states to adopt a graduated licensing system, which increases driving privileges as experience increases.