Unemployment Up. U.S. Highway Fatalities Down.

There is a downward trend in the number of traffic fatalities nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that part of the reason for the decrease is the increase in unemployment. Fewer jobs means fewer commuters means fewer accidents during rush hour.

While final figures for 2009 have not yet been released, figures for the first nine months indicated the trend in fewer fatalities was continuing downward. But, even before rising unemployment numbers were helping to lower traffic fatalities, the 2008 highway death count at 37,261 represented a drop of 9.7 percent from 2007. Fatalities reported in 2008 hit their lowest level since 1961.

Besides unemployment, the current decrease in highway fatalities can be attributed to: increased use of seat belts; curtailing impaired driving, making highways safer, and maximizing vehicle safety.

Experts believe fatalities could be reduced even further, if more people practiced defensive driving -- reducing risks by anticipating dangerous situations, adverse conditions or the mistakes of others.

Defensive Driving Key to Driving Down Highway Fatality Rates

Many states require defensive driving courses for people who have caused multiple accidents, accumulated too many traffic tickets or unsafe driver points, or had their driving privileges suspended. A defensive driving course can often be taken as a way to dismiss traffic tickets or earn up to a 10% discount on car insurance.

Government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private schools have launched specialty courses that improve the public's driving skills. Popular courses include Alive at 25, DDC or Defensive Driving Course, Coaching the Mature Driver, Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving, Professional Truck Driving, and DDC for Instructors. Courses can be taken online or in the classroom.

The National Safety Council trains more than 1.7 million annually in defensive driving techniques. NSC was the first national organization to offer defensive driving programs and currently offers more than 30 defensive driving courses in all 50 states.

Don’t have time to take a course?

Here is a list of Defensive Driving Techniques from The Unofficial DMV Guide Answers, an online community-driven site dedicated to the exchange of knowledge on driver- and DMV-related topics.

• Always have an escape route in mind in case an emergency situation arises. To effectively do this, you must continually be aware of the space around you.
• Attempt to always keep a safe distance from the vehicles around you.
• Scan the path ahead of you at least 12-15 seconds. Don't just look at the space directly in front of your vehicle.
• Look in every direction before crossing an intersection, even when you have the right-of-way.
• Exercise increased caution anytime you have a limited field of vision, such as when approaching the top of a hill.
• Be aware of school buses, ice-cream trucks, mail trucks, and delivery trucks. Each represents an increased likelihood that someone may be leaving or entering a vehicle.
• Be especially vigilant in construction zones and around emergency scenes, as other drivers may not be properly focused on their driving.
• Slow down when around erratic or dangerous drivers, as they increase the likelihood that an accident will happen.
• Cover the brakes and exercise increased caution in areas such as shopping centers, school zones, toll plazas, playgrounds, and intersections.
• Automatically reduce speed when conditions warrant it, such as when driving in rain, snow, fog, or on icy roads. Be proactive, and don't fall into thinking that driving at the posted speed limit means you're driving at a safe speed.
• Be especially careful around parked cars, as someone could dart out from between the cars. Also, drivers may be opening a car door, or trying to pull out of a parking space, right into your line of travel.
• Exercise increased caution when driving on roads that are very wet or slushy as other motorists could splash your windshield, leaving you unable to see for an instant.
• Be wary of drivers with out-of-state plates or rental cars, as well as drivers who have a map out or their interior lights on. All point to drivers who may not be familiar with the area, and thus may be confused or distracted. This is especially important in areas which receive a heavy amount of tourists.
• Look out for drivers backing up into the road from a driveway or parking lot, as these drivers may have a limited field of vision.
• Watch out for slippery conditions during the first several minutes after it begins to rain, as the rain will mix with the oily residue on the road surface.
• Anticipate the worst moves that drivers around you could make, and know how to safely react to each move.
• Try to keep your vehicle as visible as possible to other drivers, and whenever you can, stay out of other driver's blind spots.
• Stay well in back of trucks with cargo that could easily spill onto the road. These vehicles could send debris flying into your path of travel, or those around you.
• Stay well behind a vehicle with an accumulation of snow of its roof, as this situation can create instant white-out conditions for anyone stuck driving behind it.
• Stay awake and alert; if you get drowsy, pull over for a break or a nap.
• Don’t be distracted by cell phones, radios, or other electronics, or by passengers in the vehicle.

For more information visit:

• http://www.dmv.org/defensive-driving.php
• http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Pages/safety_on_the_road.aspx