Transportation fatalities in the United States decreased by 4 percent in 2007 compared to 2006, although fatalities from crashes involving medium and heavy trucks remained virtually the same.


According to preliminary figures released Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board, transportation fatalities in all modes totaled 43,193 in 2007, compared to 45,085 in 2006. Although highway, marine, aviation, and pipeline deaths declined, rail fatalities showed an increase.

Highway fatalities, which account for nearly 95 percent of all transportation deaths, decreased from 42,708 in 2006 to 41,059 in 2007. The number of medium and heavy truck fatalities remained virtually unchanged, with 802 in 2007 compared to 805 in 2006.