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Show Table 32 Motor Vehicle Accident Deaths (ICD-9Code: E810-E825) Age-adjusted Mortality Rates per 100,000 Population (1990 Total Deaths in Utah = 277) Year Utah US Utah:US Comparison 1980 24.1 22.9 1.05:1 1981 23.0 21.8 1.06:1 1982 21.3 19.3 1.10:1 1983 18.6 18.5 1.01:1 1984 19.5 19.1 1.02:1 1985 21.1 18.8 1.12:1 1986 19.3 19.4 0.99:1 1987 18.1 19.5 0.93:1 1988 18.7 19.7 0.95:1 1989 18.8 18.9 0.99:1 1990 16.1 18.5 0.87:1 1991 14.8 na na Source: Utah - Utah Department of Health, Division of Community Health. Unpublished report. U.S. - 1979-1990: National Center for Health Statistics. Monthly Vital Statistics Report. 21(6); 21(6); 25(6); 16(5); 37(6); 39_(7); 40(8); 41.(7). Public Health Service, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. The age-adjusted mortality rate for motor vehicle accidents in Utah was slightly higher than the U.S. rate between 1981 and 1985, but then dropped below the national rate. The Utah:U.S. comparison illustrates how similar Utah's rate is to the national rate between 1980 and 1989. Utah's 1991 rate of 14.8 was the lowest of any of its other rates throughout the 1980's. Both Utah and the nation declined in total deaths due to motor vehicle accidents between 1980 and 1990 (Table 32, Figure 24). Figure 24____________________________________ Possible reasons for the decline in total age-adjusted mortality rates include improved highway and vehicle design, improved driving habits, and a speed limit change that lowered most highway speed limits to 55 mph. Note the slowly climbing Utah rates between 1983 and 1985, and then the decline since 1985. The decrease may reflect the passage of State laws in 1985 requiring seat belt use, and the increased attention given to the dangers of drinking and driving.1 Motor Vehicle Accident Deaths 8. 25 t 20 ""'I T3 Oh I i i i ? us 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 *Utah Department of Health, Division of Community Health Services. (1992). Health Status Indicators of Utahns. Salt Lake City: Author. Utah's Health: An Annual Review 1993 27 |
