Despite a 2009 increase in miles traveled compared to 2008, highway deaths during the year fell to the lowest number since 1950, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement that 2009 also saw the lowest fatality and injury rates ever recorded: 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2009, compared to 1.26 deaths for 2008.

According to the latest Fatality Analysis Reporting System and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, 33,808 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2009, down 9.7 percent from 37,423 deaths in 2008. It is the lowest amount of highway deaths since 1950's 33,186, the DOT said.

Fatal crashes fell to 30,797 in 2009, down 9.9 percent compared to 2008, and total crashes were down 5.3 percent.

Injuries in 2009, reported at 2.2 million, declined 5.5 percent compared to 2008. The number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes declined for the 10th straight year, according to the DOT.

Florida led the way in fatality reductions, recording 422 fewer fatalities in 2009 compared to 2008, followed by Texas with 405 fewer fatalities, according to the DOT.

Fatalities declined in all categories of vehicles, the DOT said, with motorcycles breaking an 11-year cycle of annual increases.

Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities declined by 7.4 percent in 2009, the DOT said, down to 10,839 fatalities compared to 11,711 in 2008. The DOT added that 33 states and Puerto Rico all reported a decline in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities.

"Today's numbers reflect the tangible benefits of record seat belt use and strong anti-drunk driving enforcement campaigns," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "But we are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving. We will continue to work with our state partners to strictly enforce both seat belt use and anti-drunk driving laws across this nation, every day and every night."

Mr. LaHood said, "Today's announcement shows that America's roads are the safest they've ever been. But they must be safer. And we will not rest until they are."