Traffic Deaths Down

U.S. highway deaths in 2008 have fallen to their lowest level since John F. Kennedy was president. Preliminary figures released by the government show 37,313 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year. That's 9.1 percent lower than the year before, when 41,059 died, and the fewest since 1961, when there were 36,285 deaths. Experts say the recession and $4 per gallon gas meant people drove less to save more. They also cited record high seat belt use, tighter enforcement of drunken driving laws and the work of advocacy groups that encourage safer driving habits. The fatality rate, the number of deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, was 1.28 in 2008, the lowest on record. Seat belt use in 2008 climbed to 83 percent, also a record. Michigan had the nation's highest seat belt use rate with 97.2 percent.