Traffic deaths soared past 40,000 last year for the first time in a decade

Ashley Halsey III, The Washington Post
WASHINGTON – The number of people killed in car crashes last year exceeded 40,000 for the first time in a decade, reversing a trend that saw traffic fatalities dwindle for several years, data released Wednesday show.
Officials attribute the increase mostly to the improved economy and lower gas prices, which have led to more people driving for work and pleasure.
The statistics released by the National Safety Council offer the first full picture of