Fewer people than last year lost their lives on Ohio roadways during the Christmas holiday, according to figures released by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

According to a press release from the patrol, from 6 p.m. Friday to 5:59 a.m. Monday, there were six people killed. One of those deaths was a pedestrian and two of the deaths were attributed to alcohol.

Last year the patrol reported that there were 11 deaths with five attributed to alcohol.

In addition, in this year’s fatal crashes, 60 percent of those killed were not wearing a safety belt.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday this year, the patrol also reported fewer deaths than last year. During the reporting period, which began at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, and ran through 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 10 people were killed. Three of those deaths were attributed to alcohol. Last year during Thanksgiving, 18 people lost their lives last year, with 10 being alcohol-related. In addition, in this year’s fatal crashes, 60 percent of those killed were not wearing a safety belt.

In Lawrence County, Lt. Michael Gore said there were few accidents over the Christmas weekend.

“(There were) not a lot of accidents,” Gore said. “It’s the typical stuff you have when the weather is bad. We didn’t have anything serious.”

In recent years the Ironton post has targeted high traffic areas like shopping centers during the Christmas season, he said. It has also used increased manpower during the holidays including Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s in an effort to stop drunken drivers.

Gore advised those who will be driving during the New Year’s holiday to be on the look out for impaired drivers including those with road rage and those who are driving aggressively or erratically.

“My advice would be the standard fair, if you plan on drinking have a designated driver, make sure the designated driver is not partaking of alcohol and wear a seat belt,” Gore said.