WASHINGTON (Reuters] – The U.S. Traffic Deaths increased by 10.5% from 2005 to 42.915 – it is the largest single-year increase in traffic fatalities since 2005. U.S. regulators reported Tuesday that this was their preliminary estimate.

This is the largest annual increase since 1975, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began tracking traffic fatalities using the current system.

“We face a crisis on America’s roadways that we must address together,” said U.S. Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

USDOT announced in January a strategy that would reduce traffic fatalities on American roads.

After coronavirus lockdowns were lifted in 2020, traffic deaths rose as drivers took risks like driving while impaired by drugs and alcohol.

In 2020, traffic deaths increased by 6.8% and 18% respectively over the levels in pre-pandemic 2019.

There will be an increase in traffic fatalities in 44 states of the United States and District of Columbia.

NHTSA stated that 2021’s fatality rate fell to 1.33 per 100 million miles. That was a decrease of 1.34million in 2020. It is also the highest since 2007.

NHTSA reported that one factor responsible for the large jump in 2020 was drivers who continued driving and engaged in dangerous behavior.

Experts claim that as the U.S. became more crowded roads, motorists felt less inclined to get tickets from police because COVID-19.