The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that US highway deaths fell to 33,808 in 2009, the lowest number since 1950.

2009 has marked the country’s the lowest road fatality and injury rates, at 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, compared with 1.26 deaths for 2008.

Fatality and injury data for 2009 highlights the decline in traffic fatalities, even as estimated vehicle miles travelled have increased over the last year.

Fatalities have declined in all categories of vehicles including motorcycles, where they were down by 850 from 2008, against an 11-year cycle of annual increases.

Drunk driving fatalities declined by 7.4% in 2009 with 10,839 deaths compared with 11,711 in 2008.