The new year started off right for the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Thursday the patrol reported that there were zero fatalities during the New Year's holiday counting period from 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31 to 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1. Troopers investigated 116 traffic crashes with 42 injuries. In addition, troopers made 47 arrests for driving while intoxicated during the 30-hour counting period.
During last year's longer counting period, 12 fatalities were reported statewide. Troopers investigated 486 traffic crashes with 147 injuries, and made 124 arrests for driving while intoxicated.
And the news gets better.
The year 2013 was the safest on Missouri roads in more than six decades.
Preliminary figures released Thursday by the patrol show that 741 people died in traffic crashes last year.
Patrol Capt. Tim Hull says that's the lowest number since 683 people died on Missouri roads in 1947.
Of the 741 fatalities, 63 percent of those were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Missouri officials have placed an emphasis on reducing traffic fatalities in recent years.
MoDOT has installed cables in the medians of some four-lane highways, including U.S. 63 between Columbia and Jefferson City, to prevent cross-over crashes and rumble strips on the sides to warn drivers when they are close to running off the road.
Since 2005, Missouri traffic fatalities have declined 41 percent and the total of all Missouri traffic crashes decreased 21percent.
Of those killed in crashes last year, 63 percent were not wearing seat belts as they were required to do.