FRANKFORT - Preliminary statistics* show that two people died in two separate crashes on Kentucky's roadways during the two-day 2004 Christmas holiday.

This figure is down substantially from the six fatalities recorded during the four-day Christmas holiday period last year.

Of the two fatal Christmas holiday crashes, which occurred in Pulaski and Harlan counties, preliminary data indicates alcohol was a suspected factor in both of the crashes.

Only one of the two victims was wearing a seat belt.

The official Christmas holiday period ran from 6 p.m. Friday, December 24 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 26, 2004.

All statistics* are from that time period.

As of December 27, the 2004 Kentucky highway fatality count currently stands at 951.

This is 28 more than at this same time in 2003 and 20 more than the total number of highway fatalities in 2003.

The 2004 New Year's holiday period begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 31 and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 2, 2005.

The Kentucky State Police will again be coordinating their traffic enforcement efforts with local police and sheriff's offices during this time period.

Saturation road patrols and traffic safety checkpoints will be employed to combat the three key causes of traffic fatalities: speeding, impaired driving and failure to use seat belts.

Citizens can contribute to highway safety during the holiday period by reporting erratic, impaired or speeding drivers to the KSP toll-free hotline at 1-800-222-5555.

Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number, if possible.

The State Police Post at Elizabethtown reports it will be conducting traffic safety evaluations on roadways in all eight Post 4 counties during the month of January.

Troopers will set up checkpoints on various roadways in Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, Jefferson, LaRue, Meade and Nelson counties.

KSP said most of the checkpoints will be set up on weekends when impaired driving traffic is at a maximum, but the checks could be made during the week.

Officers will focus on drug and alcohol impaired drivers, but will also be emphasizing the use of child safety seats and seat belts.

(*These statistics are still preliminary as KSP waits for all local law enforcement agencies to report any crashes and fatalities that may have occurred in their districts and not yet reported.)