WASHINGTON, D.C. — Transportation fatalities in the U.S. decreased by about 2% in 2011, according to preliminary figures released on Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The data indicate that overall transportation fatalities decreased from 35,043 in 2010 to 34,434 in 2011.

“Transportation accidents remain one of the nation’s leading causes of death,” NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said. “We can do better, which is why the NTSB shines a light on key safety issues each year through the Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements.”

Here are some of the findings in the latest statistics:

• The number of fatalities on U.S. roadways decreased about 2%, from 32,999 in 2010 to 32,367 in 2011. The majority of these deaths involved passenger cars, light trucks and vans.

• The number of fatalities in buses (which was not broken down into type of bus) rose from 44 in 2010 to 54 in 2011. Bus fatalities accounted for about 0.2% of all highway fatalities in 2011.

• Grade crossing deaths dropped from 261 in 2010 to 251 in 2011.

• The total number of fatalities in aviation increased from 476 in 2010 to 494 in 2011, with about 90% involving fatalities in general aviation. There were no airline fatalities in 2011.

Aviation statistics are tracked and compiled by the NTSB. Marine statistics are provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and statistics for all other modes are provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

For more of the 2011 and 2010 U.S. transportation fatality data, click here.

Other news on transportation fatality statistics:

• NHTSA updates school transportation crash stats