ALABAMA HIGHWAY DEATHS DOWN DURING LABOR DAY

Four people died this year, half as many as the two previous years. In 2007, there were seven fatal crashes, and Alabama State Troopers in 2006 worked 11.

While any loss of life is tragic, Gov. Bob Riley and Public Safety Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy commended drivers and law enforcement for making Alabamas highways safer during the holiday weekend.

Murphy said troopers stepped up patrols and used specialized vehicles with breath-alcohol testing equipment, or BAT Mobiles, in nine parts of the state considered DUI hot spots.

Riley and Murphy announced last week that the number of deaths in crashes worked by troopers has declined for four consecutive years, from a high of 828 in 2006 to 541 in 2009. Through August, the number of fatalities in 2010 was down to 349.