Traffic deaths drop by 3 percent in 2010

WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- Traffic deaths in 2010 were 3 percent lower than in 2009, and the rate of deaths was the lowest since 1949, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced.

"Last year's drop in traffic fatalities is welcome news and it proves that we can make a difference," LaHood said Friday in a release. "Still, too many of our friends and neighbors are killed in preventable roadway tragedies every day. We will continue doing everything possible to make cars safer, increase seat belt use, put a stop to drunk driving and distracted driving and encourage drivers to put safety first."

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projections indicate the number of traffic fatalities fell from 33,808 in 2009 to 32,788 last year, a 3 percent decrease. NHTSA estimates projected the fatality rate will be the lowest recorded since 1949, with 1.09 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, down from the 1.13 fatality rate for 2009.

The drop in highway deaths last year occurred despite drivers traveling nearly 21 billion more miles nationwide, the Transportation Department said.

A regional breakdown showed the greatest decreases were in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, all reporting a 12 percent drop.