The fatality rate tok a large step down when the oh-so-correct 55 national limit disappeared.
Quit calling the majority of wrecks "accidents" and lay attribution to "operator error", mechanical failure, etc.
If someone in a Cessna whipped through the traffic pattern at a major airport and tried to land in front of a 747 on final, (sort of analogous to a Geo Metro cutting off a semi on an off ramp), you would not call it an "accident".