State authorities anticipate 2009’s traffic deaths to be the fewest since 1944.

A preliminary traffic fatality count of 403 is an eight percent drop from 455 in 2008, according to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

When all of the reporting is in a few months from now, the state projects the final tally to be about 420. That would be the lowest reported total since 1944, when 356 were reported.

Two deaths, 471 crashes and 280 DWIs have been reported so far in Mower County.

DPS is giving some of the credit for fewer traffic fatalities to heightened DWI patrols, booster seat legislation and the primary seat belt law.

The child passenger safety law was strengthened in July to require kids to use booster seats until they are age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

The seat belt law went into effect last year, allowing law enforcement to stop motorists solely for not wearing seat belts. The seat-belt compliance rate has since climbed to 90 percent.

Mower County is a recipient of a Safe & Sober grant that has provided overtime hours for seat belt, booster seat and DWI traffic enforcement.

“It’s provided for additional staffing to enforce these laws. We’ve added at least 200 overtime hours a year that we otherwise would not have been able to do,” said Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi.

Mower County has been involved with Safe & Sober initiatives since 2005.

Other factors cited by the state include road engineering improvements; a struggling economy that has prompted motorists to drive at slower, safer speeds to conserve fuel; and motorcyclist enforcement efforts.

Last year’s 403 deaths include 298 motorists, 51 motorcyclists, 36 pedestrians, nine bicyclists, three ATV riders, three farm equipment operators, two commercial bus passengers/drivers and a road maintenance vehicle occupant.

In 2008, one-third of all fatalities were alcohol-related. Crash data regarding 2009’s alcohol-related deaths is yet to be reported.

DPS Commissioner Michael Campion said distraction, impaired driving, seat belt non-use and speeding are expected to be primary contributing factors of the 2990 fatal crashes.

The state aims to have fewer than 400 deaths in 2010, a goal of the traffic safety initiative “Toward Zero Deaths.”

States annual traffic deaths

Year Fatalities

2000: 625

2001: 568

2002: 657

2003: 655

2004: 567

2005: 559

2006: 494

2007: 510

2008: 455