HIGHWAY FATALITIES SHOW RISE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Compared to 1989, more people were killed last year on Missouri highways while fewer people died on Illinois roads.

In Southeast Missouri, the number of traffic deaths last year was fewer, while in Cape Girardeau County the number was up by four over the preceding year.

In Cape Girardeau, 1990 deaths were up by one over 1989.

Despite the decline in Illinois deaths, the number of fatalities in Southern Illinois was up sharply in 1990.

Traffic fatality statistics were released this month by the Missouri Highway Patrol, Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Statewide, the number of traffic deaths in Missouri last year rose from 1,052 in 1989 to 1,088 last year, an increase of 36. In Illinois, the number of persons killed dropped to the lowest number in the state's history: from 1,708 in 1989 to 1,568 last year, a decrease of 140.

The statistics showed the number of Missouri deaths per 100 million miles traveled last year was 2.19, slightly below the national average of 2.2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. Illinois recorded a drop in the number of deaths per 100 million miles traveled: from 2.2 in 1989, to 1.9 in 1990.

Commenting on what he called "good news for a change," Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar attributed the decrease to state and private efforts to increase awareness of driver safety.

"Tougher laws, educating our young people and public-awareness campaigns are paying off," said Edgar. "This is a result of cracking down on drunk driving, more people buckling up, and greater compliance to traffic laws."

He said the statistics indicate a continuation in a decline of Illinois traffic fatalities in the last decade.

Edgar said there was a drop of approximately 9 percent in the number of traffic deaths resulting from accidents in which drivers had a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit of 0.1 percent.

Edgar has been working to lower Illinois' blood-alcohol limit from 0.1 to 0.08 percent.

Edgar said he believes the number of traffic deaths can be further reduced this year even without lowering the alcohol-blood limit.

Dean Hollis, spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol, said at least 300 of the 1,088 people killed in the state last year would be alive today had they been wearing their seatbelts. Hollis also said too many fatalities result from motorists speeding.

"Excessive speed and failure to use seatbelts are the top two contributing factors to our high traffic-fatality count," he said.

Until 1986, the number of persons killed in traffic accidents in Missouri was below 1,000. From 1981 to 1985, the annual number of fatalities ranged from 908 to 948. But in 1986, the number rose sharply, to 1,143, then fell to 1,058 in 1987, and 1,103 in 1988.

The most people ever killed in a single year on Missouri highways was 1,467 in 1970.

In the 13-county Troop E area of Southeast Missouri, the number of people killed last year was 95, compared to 96 in 1989.

The patrol said Stoddard County led all of the Troop E counties last year with 12 fatalities. Some of those involved railroad grade-crossing collisions, officials said.

Last year, Wayne County was second with 11 fatalities; Dunklin and Butler counties were third with 10; New Madrid County had nine; and Iron and Pemiscot counties recorded 8.

Patrol officials said the number of deaths in Troop E has remained below 100 since 1980. The greatest number of fatalities in a single year in Troop E was 171 in 1970. During the past decade, the number of fatalities in the troop has ranged from 50 to 96

Last year, Cape Girardeau County had six traffic fatalities, four more than in 1989. In Cape Girardeau, there were three traffic deaths last year compared to two in 1989.

Scott and Iron counties each had eight traffic deaths; Bollinger County recorded two; and Mississippi County four.

In the 14-county area of extreme Southern Illinois, 91 people were killed last year compared to 68 in 1989, an increase of 23.

The largest number of fatalities occurred in the heavier populated counties. Williamson County led all counties in the 14-county area with 16 fatalities. It was followed by Franklin County with 14. Jefferson County had 11; Randolph County 10; and Pulaski County eight.

Traffic fatalities in other Southern Illinois counties last year were: Alexander, three; Jackson, Johnson and Washington, five each; Massac, two; Pope and Hardin, one each; Union, six; and Perry, four.

Statistics showed July was a particularly deadly month for motorists in Southern Illinois, with 15 traffic deaths occurring. That was followed by 13 in February; 12 each in October and December; eight each in September and November; and six in August. There was only one traffic death in March in the 14-county region.