The number of deaths related to transportation was reduced by almost 10 percent in 2008, compared to 2007, with fatalities from crashes involving medium and heavy trucks falling 15.9 percent
. This is the third year in a row that transportation deaths have decreased.

According to preliminary figures released Tuesday by the National Transportation Safety Board, overall transportation fatalities in the U.S. were 39,397 in 2008, down from 43,384 in 2007. In addition, highway deaths, which account for over 94 percent of all transportation deaths, decreased from 41,259 in 2007 to 37,261 in 2008. The number of medium and heavy truck fatalities fell from 805 to 677 in 2008.

"While the statistics reveal an encouraging trend line, there is still much work to be done to ensure that fewer families each year will face losing a loved one in a transportation accident," said Deborah Hersman, NTSB chairman. "We at the NTSB will continue to press hard advocating improvements in all modes of transportation to keep this trend moving in the right direction, because every transportation fatality is an unnecessary tragedy."

More info: www.ntsb.gov