The Utah Department of Transportation and the Utah Highway Patrol have reported that fatalities from car accidents are the lowest they've been in four decades, since 1974. Although officials say they won't be satisfied until the death count is down to zero, it's always good news when fewer people lose their lives on the road.

The annual traffic statistics were released last Thursday. The total number of traffic fatalities for 2011 in the state was 233, just two less than the previous year, but 20 percent lower than 2006's count. Some counties, though, such as Weber, Davis and Morgan, saw more deaths than the previous year. Salt Lake County topped the list at 62 deaths.

What are the highest contributors to fatal car accidents? Not wearing a seat belt or improper use of one topped the list. Although transportation officials estimate Utah's seatbelt usage rate at 89.2 percent, 11 percent of those not wearing a seat belt accounted for more than 30 percent of all fatalities. Pedestrian accidents, too, accounted for many of the deaths. Other contributors included drunk driving, speeding, drowsy driving and distracted driving, though distracted driving deaths were down 28 percent and deaths attributed to fatigued driving fell by 30 percent.

A few more interesting statistics: Males died in the majority of fatal accidents, accounting for 164 out of 233 deaths, and more fatal accidents occurred during the day than at night, dawn or dusk. And even though slippery roads pose a hazard in our state, most of 2011's fatal accidents occurred on dry pavement.

Although we can't control the actions of other drivers whose vehicles might crash into us, there are steps every driver and passenger can take to lower the chances of being killed in a car accident. Here's to a safer 2012!

Source: Standard-Examiner, "Utah sees continued decline in traffic fatalities," Mitch Shaw, Jan. 12, 2012