More people died on U.S. roadways in 2012 than the year before—marking the first increase in traffic deaths since 2005.

The National Safety Council recently reported a total of 36,200 deaths in motor vehicle accidents in 2012, versus just 34,600 in 2011—a 5 percent increase. This trend is especially concerning not only because it reverses a seven-year decline, but also because traffic deaths had recently dropped to their lowest level in more than 60 years.

Unfortunately it’s not the only upward trend. Crashes that required medical care also rose 5 percent to 3.9 million across the United States. And the overall death rate per 100 million miles traveled rose 4 percent to 1.23. Measured by population, the traffic death rate is also up 4 percent to 11.49 deaths per 100,000 people.

The estimated annual cost of traffic deaths, injuries, and property damage was $276.6 billion in 2012.

Experts cite several causes of traffic deaths in the U.S., including failure to wear a seatbelt, driving under the influence, and motorcyclists who do not wear a helmet—all of which, sadly, are preventable.