Traffic Accident Deaths at 60-Year Low

The number of traffic accident deaths in the U.S. declined again in 2010, reaching a 60-year low, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday.

In 2010, 32,885 people died in crashes on the nation’s roadways, despite the fact that U.S. drivers traveled almost 46 billion more miles last year – nearly 1.6 percent more – than they did in 2009.

Last year’s traffic accident deaths were the lowest they’ve been since 1949, and the 2010 fatality rate was only 1.1 deaths per 100 million vehicle – the lowest fatality rate in recorded history.

U.S. traffic accident deaths hit an all-time high in 1972, when the total number of deaths climbed to 54,589.