Department of Transportation 
For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 29, 2002

For More Information: Pat Winters 773-4156

Accident Reporting Period Set for Labor Day Holiday 

PIERRE: -- The Department of Transportation announced that the traffic accident reporting period for the Labor Day holiday will span a 78-hour period beginning at 6:00 p.m. Friday (August 30) and ending at midnight on Monday (September 2.) 

Last year over the Labor Day holiday 134 traffic accidents were reported resulting in 64 injuries and five fatalities. The last fatality-free Labor Day weekend on record occurred in 1994. In contrast, the 1970 Labor Day weekend is the deadliest on record with six fatal accidents and 12 deaths. 

The traffic accident data for the first seven months of this year compared to the same time period in 2001 reveals that total accidents are down 14 percent. Specifically, injury accidents are down 15 percent, property damage only accidents are down nearly 14 percent and the number of people injured is down nearly 14 percent. 

To date fatal accidents and fatalities are up slightly for 2002. In 2002 there have been 102 fatal accidents resulting in 116 deaths. This compares to 101 fatal accidents resulting in 113 deaths for 2001. 

Statewide vehicle miles of travel are up 2.2 percent in 2002 as compared to miles traveled in 2001. 

January through July	2002	2001
Total Accidents:	8,460	9,834
Injury Accidents:	2,421	2,852
Property Damage Only
Accidents:	5,957	6,901
Number Injured:	3,576	4,145
Vehicle Miles of Travel
(in thousands) :	4,833,529	4,730,255

For more information contact Pat Winters with the Department of Transportation at 773-4156.

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