(Bloomberg) -- Traffic fatalities in the U.S. rose for thesecond-straight year in 2016 despite a dip in crash deaths linkedto distracted driving, according to data releasedby federal highway safety regulators.

Some 37,461 people died in vehicle collisions in 2016, thehighest annual tally since 2007, according to NHTSA figures. The5.6% rise in traffic deaths last year came after a 8.4% spike in2015, which was the largest annual increase since themid-1960’s.

Drunk driving blamed for the most deaths

Fatalities from distracted drivers, such as those texting, fell2.2% last year, the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration reported Friday. Deaths linked to otherrisky behaviors such as speeding, drunk driving and not wearingseat belts contributed to an overall gain in fatalities, the agencysaid. Drunk driving was blamed for the most deaths.

Related: 5 reasons why auto accidents are on therise

The agency "continues to promote vehicle technologies that holdthe potential to reduce the number of crashes and save thousands oflives every year," it said in a statement. They "may eventuallyhelp reduce or eliminate human error and the mistakes that driversmake behind the wheel."

Miles driven

Another increase in the number of miles driven by Americanmotorists last year helps explain some but not all of the rise incrash deaths. Total vehicle-miles-traveled increased 2.2% last yearwhile the fatality rate grew 2.6% to 1.18 deaths per 100 millionvehicle miles traveled, according to the agency. Miles drivengained 2.3% in 2015.

Regulators have sounded the alarm about the rising safety riskson the roads and highways, which comes after a downward trend forthe last decade. The gains have also fueled interest on CapitolHill in self-driving vehicles as a way to curb deadly crashes, withlawmakers advancing legislation to speed autonomous vehicledeployment.

Pedestrian, motorcyclist & bicyclist deaths rose

NHTSA also found that pedestrian, motorcyclist and bicyclist deathsalso rose in 2016. Non-vehicle occupants accounted for nearly athird of all crash fatalities last year, up from roughlyone-in-four traffic deaths in 2007.

Insurance industry impact

Vehicle crashes are also hitting the insurance industry.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., the largest providerof car coverage in the U.S., posted an underwriting loss of $7billion on the business last year, burned by higher-than-expectedclaims costs.

Rivals, including Allstate Corp., Hartford Financial ServicesGroup Inc. and the Geico unit at Warren Buffett’s BerkshireHathaway Inc., have been pressured by rising costs on auto policiesas smartphones distract drivers and repair costs climb.

Related: More speed cameras needed to cut road deaths, U.S.watchdog says

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