Benjamin Bullard

bbullard@cullmantimes

The City of Cullman hasn’t been immune to a recent statewide uptick in traffic accidents — although, fortunately, the majority of local accidents have been minor.

Alabama State Troopers released statistical figures for traffic fatalities statewide in the second half of December, noting that highway deaths had increased over the same period one year ago.

Across the state, thirty-one individuals died in state trooper-investigated traffic crashes from Dec. 16 through Jan. 1. The two-week holiday period fell within the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) 17-day campaign to promote traffic safety during the Christmas and New Year’s travel period.

Cullman police have worked more traffic accidents over the past several months, although the majority of those have resulted either in minor injuries or no injuries at all.

The upswing in local crashes appears to stem from an ongoing increase in traffic volume throughout the City of Cullman, said Cullman Police Chief Kenny Culpepper.

“We have a lot of traffic in the city, and we have a lot more accidents than we used to,” he said Tuesday. “But that’s just because we have a lot more traffic volume now.”

Statewide, fatalities increased from 26 in 2015 to 31 over the 2016 holiday period.

“One of the worst parts of a Trooper’s job is to investigate a deadly crash and notify family members, especially during what should be a festive time,” Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Stan Stabler said. 

Breaking the statewide statistics down further, ALEA reported 20 drivers, six passengers, one motorcyclist, one ATV operator, one UTV operator and two UTV passengers were killed during December’s second half.

“Of the 29 individuals killed who were traveling in vehicles equipped with seat belts,” the relase stated, “only seven were buckled up. And only one of the two individuals who should have been using a helmet was wearing one.”

In all of 2016, Alabama State Troopers investigated a total of 671 traffic fatalities statewide — an increase of 144 over 2015’s fatality total of 527.

 

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.