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Lake County sees lowest traffic accident fatality rate since 1958

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Bumper stickers reading “Pray for me: I drive Highway 93” still adorn the rear windows and bumpers of many vehicles in the valley, and for good reason.

According to Arlee fire chief Ken Light, U.S. Highway 93 was one of the most dangerous roads in the nation. In 2006, 22 people died in Lake County alone, tying Gallatin County for the second highest fatality rate in Montana.

Few know the exceedingly high cost of fatal car accidents better than Light. A department member for 18 years, he once lay awake in bed counting fatal car wrecks. He got as high as 50 before his memory got blurry.

“We try to protect our other crew members from having to deal with that stuff,” Light said. “The more experienced people seem to have better coping skills for that. It sticks in your head; if people don’t have to be involved and see that kind of thing, we shield them.”

Late this past spring, the Montana Highway Patrol released their annual report containing mountains of useful data and analysis to aid local and state law enforcement in their quest to keep people safe. This year’s report showed a total of four deaths in 2011 as a result of car accidents in Lake County. This is the lowest figure since 1958.

“It makes me feel great, it’s awesome. I feel bad for those four, I wish there were none. But it’s better than previous years and we’re on the right track,” Light said.

As with most things, the 85 percent drop in highway fatalities over the past six years has no single unifying factor or cause. Rather, it has to do with a myriad of contributed effort and cooperation between law enforcement agencies on all levels, increased patrols, and transitioning Highway 93 into a 4-lane highway.

Tribal law enforcement police chief Craige Couture’s moment of reflection came in 2005 while giving a speech at the state capitol. During his speech, workers had placed white crosses on the capitol lawn to symbolize fatal accidents.

“Between myself and the other two officers, we could count six family members among the crosses,” Couture said. “It really hit home. If those were homicides, we’d have an uproar.”

In response, tribal law enforcement began using the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program in 2005. The state-funded program pays overtime for officers to run DUI patrols. All officers involved in this program are volunteers.

During STEP’s first year, officers from tribal law enforcement made 127 DUI arrests. Last year, they made 348 DUI arrests. According to Montana’s website, the state invested $753,000 in the program during 2012.

“Every time we make a stop and the person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and we pull them off the highway, we look at that as we just saved that person’s life,” Couture said.

Montana Highway Patrol Major Greg Watson said the addition of speed limits in 1999 contributed greatly, but stressed that the leading cause of most fatalities in Montana remain similar year to year. They are single vehicle rollover accidents resulting from speed and alcohol with no safety restraint.

Watson said his agency has tried to reduce these types of accidents by educating the public on the effects of dangerous driving and instructing troopers to target aggressive and impaired drivers.

Watson said he hopes next year’s numbers are even lower.

While everyone seems to agree that recent improvements to U.S. Highway 93 and targeting dangerous driving habits like speeding, aggressive driving and impaired driving has contributed to the low number of deaths in recent years, Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron said speed studies are also a part of the equation.

Speed studies are conducted to determine if the posted speed limit on a particular stretch of road is indeed a safe rate of travel. Barron said the Lake County commisioners make a recommendation to the state based on the results of the speed study. The state then confers with the tribe and county to decide if a change will be made.

“I can’t remember a time when the state, county and tribe didn’t support each other’s decision. We have a long history of working together for the common good,” he said.

Arlee Fire Chief Ken Light summed up local and state law enforcement efforts thusly, “I always say, ‘the Grim Reaper has the upper hand,’ but every once in a while you save people, and that makes all the difference.”

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