America's highways are getting safer, according to new estimates by the Department of Transportation.

The Department said Friday that the number of people dying on U.S. roadways is at its lowest level in more than 60 years.

Numbers show about 32,700 people were killed on the road last year, a 3 percent decrease from 2009 and the lowest report since 1949.

"My message to people is, there was still 30,000 people killed on the highways. We've got to be vigilant about safety on the roadways," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.

"And that's the only way we will continue to get these numbers to decline," he continued. "We've made progress, but we've got to continue to make more progress."

The government said numbers are down because more people wear seat belts and vehicles have better safety features.

Last year, highway deaths declined despite an increase in the number of miles Americans drove during the year.