Traffic deaths surge 7.7% in 2015

Non-motorist traffic deaths rise

(LAKANA) – Traffic deaths increased 77 percent in 2015 as drivers spent more time behind the wheel than ever.

A report by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration found an uptick in non-motorist traffic deaths, including a 13 percent increase in bicycle fatalities, a 10 percent increase in pedestrian deaths and a 9 percent increase in motorcycle deaths, according to The Associated Press.

Americans are also driving more than ever before logging 3.1 trillion miles in 2015. Fuel prices also dropped in 2015, averaging $2.40 per gallon, the AP reported.