Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

By KEN THOMAS Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Highway deaths have fallen to their lowest levels in more than 60 years.

The Transportation Department estimates 32,788 people were killed on U.S. roads in 2010, a decrease of about 3 percent from 2009. That's the lowest number since 1949, when Harry Truman was president.

The government says there are still too many deaths, but they attribute the decreases to more people wearing seat belts, efforts to prevent drunken driving and safer vehicles.

The decline in deaths came despite an increase in the number of miles Americans drove during the year.