The Department of Transportation recently announced that traffic deaths on U.S. roads were down slightly from 43,443 in 2005 to 43,300 in 2006, according to preliminary figures. More than half of passenger vehicle occupants killed were unbuckled, according to DOT.
The preliminary figures also show that between 2005 and 2006, overall alcohol-related fatalities increased 2.4 percent from 17,525 to 17,941, and fatalities from large truck crashes dropped from 5,212 to 5,018, a 3.7 percent decline.
The final 2006 report will be available in late summer. The preliminary report is available by clicking here.
