A mild winter and little rain are being blamed for a jump in Nebraska traffic deaths last year.

The total as of Monday was 207, compared with 181 in 2011 and 190 in 2010.

State highway safety administrator Fred Zwonechek stated that most people drive slower and more cautiously when snow, ice or rain make roadways more perilous.

Zwonechek cited for example the deaths of 22 people on Nebraska roads in January last year, compared with seven and eight the previous two years.