Highway Traffic Deaths Hit Record Low

New figures suggest we're safer than we've been in decades on the roadways.

Highway traffic deaths reached a record low last year.

You might be surprised what's getting the much of the credit.

Remember those four-dollar-plus per gallon gas prices?

Turns out we can thank them and the recession for keeping us safer on the roads.

Billy Emberton, Carpools, "I used to drive everyday and now we've had to team up there are four of us that we share the ride."Mary Haffner, Driver, "We try to stay right at the speed limit."

Safety experts say more people are doing the same thing, and its putting the brakes on deadly crashes on our highways.

Government figures show the number of highway deaths fell 9 percent last year reaching the lowest since 1961.

Trooper Stephen Kennedy, Georgia State Patrol, "Shows that we're doing our job. We try really hard out here on the road trying to make the motoring public safe."

Georgia State Trooper Stephen Kennedy noticed a drop in his personal numbers...and points to record high seat belt usage last year.

Click it or Ticket, PSA, "If you don't buckle up expect a ticket. Click it or Ticket."

He says it shows messages like this one's getting across.

Trooper Kennedy, "Seatbelts are designed to prevent death to try to save a life. The fact that people are wearing them properly having motor vehicle accidents and living through it surviving tells that itself."

Drivers we spoke with expect the benefits to survive.

Ariel Cintron, Driver, "It's a whole different mentality as to before which is good. So even if it's $1 If I could save gas I gotta do my part you know.Malaika Tanner, Driver, "I think we now as a nation we're planning ahead of time before we get in the car we go somewhere."

DUI enforcement also shares the credit.

The latest numbers from 2007 show DUIs fell in the tri state area and 30 states.

DUI 2006-2007 

AL down 8%

GA Down 3%

TN Down 5%

Seat belt use rose in all three states in our area last year too.

Seatbelt use 2008

AL 86.1% up 3.8%

GA 89.6 up 0.6%

TN 81.5 % up 1.3%

Click here for more numbers on seat belt usage and highway fatalities.