Oklahoma Officials Report Decline In August Traffic Fatalities

Department of Public Safety officials report a decrease in traffic fatalities. There were 56 fatalities in August 2012 with a total of 72 in the same month last year.

Sixty-six percent of those who died in traffic collisions were not wearing safety belts at the time of the crash, according to DPS statistics.

There were eight motorcyclist and five pedestrians who died in crashes during August. The highest daily fatality numbers include 11 deaths on Wednesday and Fridays, dropping to ten on Tuesdays. There were eight days without fatalities in the month of August, the agency reported.

One of the fatality crashes were alcohol-related, in the opinion of the investigating state, county or municipal officer. Fifty of the fatality victims were Oklahoma residents and six non-resident, and there were 44 male and 12 female victims.

Five of the fatality victims were age 20 or under. The leading number of fatalities by age group were in the 21-30 year-olds with 20, dropping to thirteen in the 41-50 year olds.

Oklahoma County led the state with a fatality count of 16, followed by Payne County with five fatalities.

The highest number of fatality crashes were 15 on interstates and state highways, followed by nine fatalities on county roads and city streets.

DPS statistics show:

Year to date fatalities through October 15, 2012: 521

Year to date fatalities through October 15, 2011 : 598