The State : Road Deaths Down in 1988

Traffic fatalities in 1988 dropped to their lowest rate ever recorded in California, with 119 fewer deaths than in 1987, the Highway Patrol said. The CHP said 5,381 people died last year on California roadways, a 2.2% decrease from the 5,500 traffic deaths in 1987. The death rate dropped to 2.3 traffic fatalities for every 100 million miles traveled by California motorists, compared to the 2.4 rate that has held steady since 1985. CHP spokesman Sam Haynes said the 1988 rate is the lowest ever recorded by the agency, which was created in 1929 and has been monitoring traffic deaths at least since the 1940s. “We believe the major factor is an increased use of seat belts,” Haynes said. “The seat belt use rate is up to 65% on freeways and 50% on surface streets.”