U.S. traffic deaths fell last year for the first time since the 2020 pandemic-era surge began, though fatalities were still well above levels recorded a decade ago.

The 4% decrease still resulted in a sobering number of people who died on U.S. roads: more than 39,000, or 1.2 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, up from 1.1 in the seven years before the pandemic, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

The small drop cut road deaths to less than 40,000 for the first time since 2020, when traffic lightened by pandemic shutdowns spurred an increase in speeding and other dangerous traffic habits.

The U.S. transportation department division said it will work with police agencies to try to further reduce deaths by encouraging enforcement of impairment, speeding, distracted driving and seat belt laws.

It estimates that 14 states and Washington, D.C. actually had year-over-year traffic death increases last year. 

DIG DEEPER: The Road Deconstructed