Car crash fatalities fell in 40 states in '08, driven partly by people driving less because of the recession and seat belt use reaching a record high of 83%.
That's according to a survey by the Governors Highway Safety Association. Other reasons for the decline include high gas prices in the first part of the year that caused people to drive less or even more slowly to boost fuel efficiency. The survey follows a gov't report that found auto fatalities dropped 10% in Jan.-Oct. If that trend held up in Nov.-Dec., car crash deaths could reach their lowest level in 42 years.
