Deadly crashes down nearly 50% this Labor Day weekend: CHP

Fatal crashes were down nearly 50% this Labor Day holiday weekend when compared with the same time period in 2024, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP announced plans to “flood roadways with all available officers” in an effort to stop impaired drivers late last week.

The CHP released the results comparing this year’s enforcement period, between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, with 2024’s Labor Day weekend totals on Tuesday:

• Fatal crashes dropped 49% (39 → 20)
• Fatalities dropped 51% (43 → 21)
• 34,331 citations issued
• 19,798 speeding citations

One area that did not improve was in the number of DUI arrests (1,214), which was up from last year’s total of 1,140, the CHP stated on its Facebook post Tuesday.

“Every arrest, every ticket, and every stop represents a dangerous behavior taken off the road. The sharp drop in fatal crashes shows that increased enforcement saves lives,” the post read.

The CHP also urged drivers to always stay focused, buckle up and drive sober.