U.S. Highway Deaths Fall to 62-Year Low

About 32,300 people died in traffic accidents on American highways last year, down 1.7% from 2010, according to a preliminary estimate from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Last year was the sixth straight year-over-year decline in traffic fatalities and marked the lowest number of deaths since NHTSA began tracking the data in 1949.

The drop in 2011 fatalities came as motorists drove 36 billion miles, 1.2% fewer than the year before. The agency expects last year's rate will be an all-time low of 1.09 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, down from 1.11 in 2010 and 7.13 in 1949.

The annual tally of highway deaths has plunged 26% since 2005. Safety experts attribute the decline in deaths to greater use of seatbelts, safety technology innovations, campaigns to reduce drunk driving and improved emergency medical response.