Traffic fatalities are up in the U.S. for the first half of the year, and deteriorating roads could be partly to blame.

A new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found a nine-percent increase in motor vehicle deaths, the largest jump in a six month period since 19-75.

More than 16-thousand people have died in crashes this year. Triple-A calls the spike "alarming."

A Triple-A spokesman says the fact that federal and state governments are choosing to wait to make road repairs is a possible factor.

An increase in cars, trucks and traffic on the roads could also be a big reason for the increase in deadly crashes.