ATLANTA (AP) — Federal and state authorities say Georgia highway fatalities dropped substantially last year for the fifth year in a row.

Statistics finalized and published this month show a total of 1,244 people died on Georgia highways in 2010. That's a decline of 3.7 percent, or 48 deaths, from the 2009 total of 1,292. It continues a trend in decreased highway deaths that began in 2006.

Traffic fatalities reached a record 1,744 in 2005.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says that as of Monday, 2011 fatalities were on track to decrease from 2010 with 62 fewer than that date a year ago.