In line with overall decline of highway traffic deaths in the United States, the number of alcohol- related deaths on highways dropped for the second consecutive year in 2004, according to a federal report published by the Department of Transportation on Monday.

The number of alcohol-related deaths on highways decreased by 2. 4 percent from 17,105 in 2003 to 16,694 last year, according to the report.

It marks a decline for the second straight year and it was also the first time that alcohol-related highway deaths dropped under 17,000 in five years.

In the overall trend, highway traffic deaths declined by 0.6 percent in 2004 to 42,636, from 42, 884 in the previous year.

Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta attributed the downward trend to "safer cars, higher safety belt use and stronger safety laws."

However, the number of motorcyclist deaths on highways increased by nearly 8 percent last year to 4008 on a year-on-year basis, the first time it has topped more than 4,000 since 1987.

It was also the seventh consecutive year of the increase of motorcyclist deaths.

According to the Department of Transportation, highway accidents cost the country over 230 billion US dollars a year on the average, or some 820 dollars for each person.

Source: Xinhua