First responders on the scene of a River North car crash

U.S. traffic deaths are up 9% for the first half of 2012 according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This is contrary to a general decline in traffic fatality rates the nation has enjoyed over the past five years.

But according to Reuters, officials don’t seem to know or understand the recent spike in traffic deaths. The recently released report is preliminary as it only covers the first six months of the year.

2011 was a record breaking year with the lowest number of recorded traffic fatalities in 60 years.

Some experts believe an improving economy is at least partially to blame. The last four years of a down economy has seen a reduction in automobile travel and thus a reduction in crashes and deaths. But some people believe a reawakening economy may be putting more people on the road.

Illinois, which as of this story has a total of 735 traffic deaths reported this year, is on track to chalk up numbers consistent with the last three years.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reports the state had a record low 911 traffic fatalities in 2009, 927 in 2010 and 918 in 2011.

Here’s Reuter’s full story, “Experts puzzled by increase in U.S. traffic deaths.”