WASHINGTON - Fewer people died on the nation's highways during the first three months of 2009 as motor vehicle fatalities continued to fall to levels not seen in nearly a half-century.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday about 7,689 motorists were killed in the months of January through March, a 9 percent decline from a year ago.

Reporting ahead of the July 4 holiday, a busy period on the nation's roadways, the government estimated that 37,261 motorists died in 2008, the fewest since 1961. If the 2009 fatality trends continue, fewer than 31,000 people will die this year.

Highway safety officials also reported a decline nationwide in the fatality rate, the number of deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. It fell to 1.27 in 2008, the lowest on record, from 1.36 in 2007. The rate dropped to 1.12 during the first three months of 2009.

In Wisconsin, 242 traffic fatalities had been recorded in the first half of 2009 as of June 29. That was 10 fewer than at the same time last year.

Experts have attributed the declines to the economic recession, record-high seat-belt use and fewer people driving.

In 2008, vehicle miles traveled fell by about 3.6 percent, to 2.92 trillion miles, as many people drove less because of fluctuating gas prices and a weaker economy. The government said vehicle miles traveled continued to decline during the first three months of 2009.

Several states, meanwhile, have pursued tougher seat belt laws that allow law enforcement officers to stop motorists whose sole offense was failing to buckle up.

Thirty states and the District of Columbia have the enforcement laws. Legislators in Wisconsin, Florida, Arkansas and Minnesota approved the laws in 2009.

The remaining states have laws that allow tickets for seat belt violations only if motorists are stopped for other offenses. New Hampshire has no seat belt law for adults.

Seat belt use in 2008 reached 83 percent, a record.