Traffic fatalities have been steadily declining for decades as technology and safety have improved, however a look at the data reveals the downward trend that mandatory airbags* brought was reversed in 1992 at the historic low of 39,250 fatalities and has been rising ever since. Had a downward trend of 2,500 fewer deaths per year continued since 1992 there would have been 991,433 less traffic fatalities by 2006.  

What about the last ten years? Here we clearly see the upward trend since congress repealed the national speed limit law in 1996.

The Governors Highway Safety Association has set a goal of zero fatalities in testimony to congress on July 16, 2008 and asks for federal help.

"The goal of zero fatalities. The loss of one life is one too many. Over time, and with education, enforcement, safety infrastructure improvements, vehicle improvements, and technological advances, such an ambitious goal can be achieved."

To help achieve this ambitious goal, among other requests, they want:

"A new speed management incentive grant. Speeding is a factor in an estimated one-third of all crashes, and costs society an estimated $40 billion annually. Reducing speed not only saves lives, but it also saves energy. A new speed management program should provide incentives for states that undertake speed enforcement, conduct speed management workshops, implement automated speed enforcement programs, or conduct public information campaigns about speeding."

One may ask then, what if the downward trend had not been reversed in 1992 and had continued towards the goal of zero deaths at the same pace it had been, how many fewer fatalities would that have been?

* On 11 July 1984, the U.S. government required cars being produced after 1 April 1989 to have driver's side airbags 

DOT HS 810 818 - Traffic Safety Facts 2006
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/CMSWeb/index.aspx

Governors Highway Safety Association
http://www.ghsa.org/html/media/pressreleases/2008/2008.07.16.testimony.html