Motor vehicle fatalities in Nevada have decreased significantly in 2007, according to the Nevada Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety.

Preliminary data from the department showed 431 fatalities for 2007, a 14 percent decrease from 2006 and the lowest death count the state has seen in four years.

"More drivers are wearing their seat belt and fewer are taking to the road while impaired," Chuck Abbot, division chief stated in a prepared press release. "Special highway safety grants in 2005 and 2006 have allowed us to increase our media and enforcement campaigns, encouraging drivers to stay alert, use safety belts, and not drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol."

The decline in motorist deaths was also partially attributed to the Office of Traffic Safety's "Joining Forces" program, where Nevada agencies work multi-jurisdictionally to enforce Nevada traffic laws.

In addition, the state's role in national enforcement campaigns such as the "Click it or Ticket" and "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" campaigns (most commonly associated with the corroborating television commercials) are also thought to have played a role in the fatality decline.

In crashes where fatalities were recorded, seat belt use saw a notable increase from 49 percent in 2006 to 52 percent in 2007.

The number of fatal crashes related to alcohol use also appears to have decreased by a similar amount.

Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, however, maintained about the same rate of fatal incidents.

Still, the motor vehicle statistics show plenty of reason for a guarded optimism.

"If the preliminary data holds, and there is no reason to believe that won't, Nevada's fatality rate will drop from 17.1 fatals per 100,000 people to a record low of 13.1 per 100,000," Abbott explained.

The official fatality numbers, however, won't be final until June and generally a small fluctuation is common as law enforcement agencies complete their reports.

According to the OTS, the estimates provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate the reductions of fatalities last year will save the public about $71 million in medical and social costs.

"While the decrease in fatalities is positive news, even one fatality on our highways is too many," Abbot said.