Aug 27, 2008 9:08 pm US/Eastern
Are High Gas Prices Saving Lives?
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Drivers hate paying more at the pump. It makes people think long and hard about getting in their car.
But is there a silver lining?
Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve got an exclusive look at new statistics from the state that suggest more people are alive today because of the ridiculous price of gas.
It's clear painfully high gas prices are changing driving habits, and make no mistake there are benefits to that as one driver in Brighton told Shortsleeve Wednesday.
"Well it helps the environment of course, less pollution in the air," the driver said. "Maybe the green house gas effect is not as strong."
Yes, and add to that more people are taking public transportation and, therefore, there is less traffic.
There are also fewer deadly car crashes on state roadways and the decline here in Massachusetts has been rather dramatic.
Just ask Rich Serino of Boston's Emergency Medical Services.
"We have noticed a change -- a decrease in the number of serious accidents in the past few months," Serino said.
Serino is always the first person at an accident scene. He says there have been fewer recently.
And statistics back him up. WBZ got an exclusive look at new data from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
In 2007 between January and August, 302 people died in traffic accidents across the state.
This year from January to August, 212 people have died -- a 30 percent decrease.
It's not just people driving fewer miles -- people are also changing their habits when they're behind the wheel.
Serino says it's clear "if you drive a little bit slower, not only will you save money on gas but you can also save your life."
As State police gear up to crack down on drunk drivers this holiday weekend, top public safety personnel say new tough driving laws are also the reason fewer people are dying on our roadways.
Rachel Kaprielian is with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
"I think that some of the programs that the registry has put in place, like the Junior Operator law and Melanie's law, have made a real impact in the quality of drivers and we have far fewer bad drivers on our roads," Kaprielian said.
State Police say they will be adding 210 extra troopers to the roadways this long holiday weekend, looking for drunk drivers.
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