FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, October 20, 2009

State agency members of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced that 2008 had the lowest fatality rate ever on New York's highways making it the safest in history since the state began keeping records in the early 1920s.

According to final DMV records for 2008, the total number of traffic fatalities decreased from 1,317 in 2007 to 1,224 in 2008, a seven percent reduction. Additionally, data from the DMV shows that in 2008 large truck crash fatalities decreased by 22 percent and bicycle crash fatalities decreased by 16 percent.

"I commend the work of all of the agencies of the GTSC that have made this the second year in a row that we have achieved historic gains with a strong commitment towards making the State's roadways the safest in the nation," said Governor David A. Paterson. "This success demonstrates that the many local programs and multi-agency cooperative efforts are working as we continue to strive to make each and every year a record year for highway safety."

Many of New York's traffic safety programs are funded through GTSC. The GTSC is comprised of 12 state agencies, all of which play a significant role in helping to reduce crashes, by distributing federal highway safety grants to state, local and not-for-profit agencies to conduct various highway and traffic safety initiatives.

The highway safety programs are derived from utilizing industry recognized best practices. In part, they include comprehensive public education and outreach, combined state and local law enforcement efforts, and proper engineering of our roadways. These efforts have created many successful working partnerships within GTSC aimed at the single task of reducing crashes and saving lives.

Commissioner David J. Swarts of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Chair of GTSC said, "Each year we proactively institute many programs to improve safety, specifically designed toward educating the motoring public as well as others who use the roadways. Our goal has been to ensure that both state and local grant recipients create programs that will continually educate and remind motorists of proper safety behaviors."

The cooperation among law enforcement agencies from across the state including the State Police, local police and sheriff's agencies has been instrumental in increasing highway safety. In fact, Commissioner Swarts yesterday presented the State Police, at a Highway Safety Symposium in Saratoga Springs, NY, with a plaque to recognize the traffic division's recent receipt of two prestigious awards in national competitions. Both the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Clayton J Hall Memorial Award and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) Martha Irwin Distinguished Service Award for Safety recognized the New York State Police traffic safety program as the best in the nation.

State Police Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt said, "It was a great honor to accept this award on behalf of the men and women of the New York State Police who work tirelessly year round, day and night, and in all types of weather, to improve the safety of our roads and highways. It is a testament to their efforts and dedication when leaders in the field of traffic safety, such as the IACP and AAMVA recognize them among the best."

Another important aspect of traffic safety is engineering. For many years transportation agencies have dramatically improved conditions under which motorists drive. Developing effective countermeasures for dangerous intersections, straightening roadways, installing lane departure deterrents, incorporating more informative safety signage and building adequate shoulders to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians, are just some of the safety engineering actions that have helped make our highways safer for the traveling public.

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee said, "With Governor Paterson's support and leadership, we work cooperatively with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, the New York State Police, local law enforcement agencies and community leaders to ensure that our highways are safe for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians across New York State. NYSDOT is at the forefront of innovative safety programs, such as the Safe Routes to School and Safe Seniors programs."

For a complete listing of the 2008 traffic safety data and information, or previous traffic safety data and related materials please, visit www.dmv.ny.gov or www.SafeNY.ny.gov.