NEW YORK -- Traffic deaths have been going down, but a new study shows they are still a bigger problem in the United States than in other affluent countries.

The U.S. had by far the highest fatality rate for car crashes of the 20 countries studied. The rate in 2013 was more than twice as high as in most of the other countries.

And traffic deaths haven't been dropping as fast in the U.S. The rate has fallen by nearly a third since 2000. But every other country had a steeper decline.

Experts say Americans spend more time in cars and other vehicles than people in other high-income countries. U.S. drivers also more often drive drunk and take other risks.

The government report was issued Wednesday.