Drivers in three local communities and the state are on the road this year for a reduction in highway crashes from 2005.

If current accident rates per day continue to the end of December, Buxton’s rate of decline for 2006 would be 32.3 percent; Westbrook, 31 percent; Gorham, 23.8 percent; and the state, 20.8 percent.

Buxton Police Chief Jody Thomas cited heightened local enforcement of traffic laws, like speeding, and the increased enforcement of seat belt use statewide as the reasons for the decline in accident rates so far this year.

In “higher” enforcement, she’s been assigning officers in places like Old Orchard Road in Buxton to curb speeders. Through Nov. 2, Buxton had 225 accidents, averaging .73 per day this year. At that rate, Buxton’s 2006 tally would be 268, down from 396 in 2005 when it averaged 1.08 per day.

Lt. Chris Sanborn of Gorham Police Department said Gorham had 405 accidents, averaging 1.35 per day through Oct. 25 this year and Gorham would total 495 accidents this year if accidents occur at the same rate. Gorham recorded 650 highway accidents last year with a daily average of 1.78 accidents.

Wanda Martin, a spokesperson for Westbrook Public Safety, said that city totaled 618 through Nov. 2, averaging 2.01 per day this year. At that rate, there would be 736 crashes for 2006 in Westbrook. The city recorded 1,066 accidents in 2005 with a daily average of 2.9. But the city had 899 accidents in 2004, averaging 2.4 per day.

Maine State Trooper Angela Porter said there were 26,976 accidents, averaging 88.7 per day, reported statewide through Oct. 30 this year. Porter said the state had 40,875 accidents in 2005, averaging 111.9 per day. The state would have 32,386 if the average daily rate this year continues through the end of December.

With winter approaching, driving conditions will likely effect final figures. Sanborn said Gorham could be down 50 accidents for the year but he said the final tally would depend on weather between now and the end of the year.

But food not foul weather was a factor during Friday’s morning commute when Gorham Officer Bob Henckel responded to an accident on Flaggy Meadow Road. A 17-year-old driver from Hollis lost control of an SUV after dropping a breakfast sandwich and rolled over three times on a turn.

The driver, who was on his way to attend classes at Cheverus High School in Portland, was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure.

Cutline (accident 2) (accident 1)