Prince William County recorded a 39-percent decrease in fatal crashes last year compared to a year earlier, police said.
There were 11 fatal collisions in 2011 and 18 fatal collisions in 2010, according to the Prince William County Police Department. There were 17 fatal crashes in 2009 and 22 in 2008.
The number of pedestrian fatalities, and fatalities related to speed and alcohol also were lower in 2011 than 2010, although police said the number of fatalities in which seatbelts weren’t used increased.
“Even one fatal traffic crash is too many,” Police Chief Charlie T. Deane said in a news release. “In almost every case these tragedies can be prevented. I am pleased that the total number of traffic fatalities decreased last year.”
The county saw a 2.2-percent increase in the total number of crashes — from 4,200 in 2010 to 4,291 in 2011, police said.
