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Published on Sunday, October 24, 2004
in the Lakeland Ledger
LAKELAND -- The number of fatal car crashes in Polk dropped in 2003 compared to 2002, even though the overall number of accidents was up, according to a report recently released by the state.
In 2003, 116 people were killed on Polk roads, down from 127 in 2002, an almost 9 percent decrease, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles report said.
Those figures include pedestrians and bicyclists.
The decrease in fatal wrecks could be linked to statewide efforts to encourage drivers and passengers to buckle up and use child safety seats, said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Trooper Larry Coggins. "The ongoing education programs . . . have a direct correlation to people's lives being saved on the highway."
Overall, there were 6,635 wrecks in Polk in 2003. That's a slight increase from the 6,606 reported in Polk in 2002, the DHSMV report said.
The increase in wrecks can be attributed to a growing county population, Coggins said.
Of 2003's crashes, the report said, 597 were alcohol-related, and 36 of the fatalities were alcohol-related.
Polk roads with numerous fatal accidents in 2003 include U.S. 27, Interstate 4 and State Road 60, the FHP has reported.
There were about a dozen fatal wrecks on U.S. 27, 10 on I-4 and eight on SR 60.