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Tennessee traffic fatalities up over 2009 figure

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Tennessee traffic fatalities this year already have exceeded those of 2009, reversing a three-year trend.

So far in 2010, 1,008 people have died in state wrecks, already more than the 989 killed in all of last year.

THP Crash Data

"We would like to have kept it under 1000 for another year," said Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Don Baird.

There were 1,211 fatalities in 2007 and 1,043 in 2008.

"We've had an unusual number of multiple fatalities in single wreck crashes and that adds to your numbers quickly," Lt. Baird said.

Fatal wrecks in rural counties are trending up, and troopers link this to less use of seat belts. The usage rate statewide is around 87% but in rural areas under 80.

Lt. Baird is also urging drivers to be extra cautious. The upcoming holidays translate into more people behind the wheel traveling longer distances and facing more distractions

"There's going to be people on the interstates and highway that are going to be from out of town. They don't know the area. They don't know where the exits are," he said.

One encouraging figure this year is in the Memphis district of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, where traffic fatalities have declined by 26 from 2009.

Traffic fatalities are up 28 in the Chattanooga district and 26 in the Knoxville district, areas that are considered rural outside the cities of Chattanooga and Knoxville.