If you watch the evening news, with its abundance of stories on high unemployment rates, soaring gas prices, and sinking sales numbers, you might think there’s nothing positive about the current economic climate. For most people that may be true, but one benefit of the shifting financial picture is that there are decreasing traffic fatality rates in almost every part of the country.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the year 2008 saw the fewest number of traffic-related fatalities since 1961, and the trend of decreasing fatal accidents continued through the first quarter of 2009.

Why are Fatalities Decreasing

Many factors are responsible for the decrease in traffic fatalities. Included among them are an increase in people choosing to stay home, rather than go away for vacations, and a higher number of commuters choosing to carpool or rely on public transportation. In addition, more people are telecommuting, and seatbelt laws are being more strictly enforced, in places where they exist. Together, all of these things add up to fewer accidents, and fewer fatalities.

The decrease in fatal accidents is not just a recent trend, however. Passenger car-related deaths have been dropping for six consecutive years, now, and small-truck fatalities have been decreasing for three years in a row. This may be related to more stringent enforcement of DUI regulations, and a fewer number of impaired drivers on the roads. Unfortunately, while car- and truck-related deaths are still falling, the number of motorcycle fatalities is not. It’s actually getting higher.

Still, motorcycle accidents hardly represent the bulk of all traffic accidents. For example, in the state of Florida, in 2008, there were 2,978 total traffic fatalities, of which 60% were car, truck, bus, or van accidents. Motorcycle, bike, and pedestrian accidents made up the remaining 40% of accidents in that state.

If the total number of accidents seems high, bear in mind that Florida’s reported traffic fatalities are generally higher than the national average. In 2008, the average number of fatalities, nationwide, was roughly twelve per 100,000 people, while the verage just for Florida was six per 100,000 people.

What does this mean for today’s commuter? First: staying clean and sober while on the road, and using your seatbelt, really does prevent accident fatalities. Second: the fewer miles people drive, the fewer accidents there are. Third: Despite the grim economy, there are some positive changes. The trend away from summer family road trips, pleasure driving, and solo commutes has also reduced the number of traffic fatalities on the road.