Newton County residents drove safely for the most part this Labor Day weekend, reporting about half as many accidents in the county as last year, according to the Newton County Sheriff's Office.

 The NCSO traffic division reported 13 accidents this year, as opposed to 25 accidents last year over the holiday weekend. There were 61 traffic citations in all, with four Driving Under the Influence cases, 21 speeding citations, 10 seat belt violations and 26 other traffic citations.

 The Conyers post of the Georgia State Patrol reported seven wrecks in the Newton, Rockdale, Walton county area that they patrol, with six minor injuries. Of those, only three were in Newton County, all multiple car accidents with minor injuries that required no hospitalization

 The Covington Police Department counted 36 traffic citations but no incidents of driving under the influence, from Friday to Monday. Call volume was heavy over the weekend, said CPD spokesperson Det. Daniel Seals, who pointed out responding to calls takes time away from patrolling traffic.

 Statewide, the GSP reported 2,154 traffic crashes, 577 injuries, and 18 fatalities over the 78-hour Labor Day holiday period, from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight on Monday.

 Four of those fatalities stemmed from an accident involving people fleeing from Hurricane Gustav off of Interstate 20 in Carroll County. Their car reportedly left the road, traveled into a median, and struck a tree Sunday night, according to the GSP.

 Last year there were 2,150 traffic crashes, 1,048 injuries, and 12 fatalities throughout the state over Labor Day weekend.