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     VA's Hwy Death Rate a Record Low; Safety Belt Usage at Record High     
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 US Newswire: Based on preliminary figures for 1993, reports show that 868  
 people were killed in traffic crashes in Virginia, the 2nd lowest number   
 reported in VA since 1962.  Preliminary reports also show that VA's mileage
 death rate of 1.32 deaths for every 100 million miles of travel is the     
 lowest in VA's history.  In 1962, Virginia's mileage death rate was 5.7.   
 Of the 868 fatalities reported for 1993, 429 were not wearing safety belts,
 182 were wearing safety belts, 158 were not required to wear safety belts &
 99 were undetermined.  VA Police report troopers issued 15,242 summonses   
 for safety belt violations & 1,477 for child restraint violations through  
 the end of Nov 1993. In addition, troopers arrested 8,577 motorists for    
 driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the same time period.   
 Preliminary stats show encouraging trends for 1993:                        
  - A decrease in fatalities involving teenagers ages 16-20.                
     These fatalities are down by 25%, from 134 in 1992 to 100 in '93.      
  - A decrease in non-collision fatal crashes.  These crashes are down      
    by 21%, from 136 in 1992 to 107 in 1993.                                
  - A decrease in fatalities involving motorcyclists.  These fatalities     
    are down by 15%, from 39 in 1992 to 33 in 1993.                         
  - A decrease in infant/child fatalities.  These fatalities are down 33%,  
    from 12 in 1992 to 8 in 1993.                                           


