In 1955 the total amount of auto accident deaths was 36,688. The rate of deaths per 100,000 people was twice as high at that time than it is currently. That article you mentioned was way off the charts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_vehicle_deaths_in_U.S._by_year
I’m aware of that “Official” death toll. What I reported on is what the Newspaper said in 1956.