THOMSON, Ga. - The 2009 New Year's saw a major decrease in fender benders and arrests on Georgia's highways.

Georgia State Trooper Rich Fishel has worked some pretty bloody New Year's holidays, but he says this was one of the safest he can remember.

"Compared to previous ones I've worked, this has definitely been slower than a normal holiday period for the New Year," said Fishel.

No one died on Georgia's highways this New Year’s and D.U.I.'s went down 25 percent from last New Year's. Also, vehicle accidents and arrests were both nearly cut in half.

"Every day of the holiday period, the interstates are packed and this year it wasn't near as bad—I could tell,” said Fishel. "The slowing economy definitely contributed to it. I think people spent the money on things other than going out and having fun."

State troopers also say having the holiday fall in the middle of the week helped keep more reckless drivers off the road. They also think the messages of driving safe and sober they've been pitching for years may have finally started to sink in.

"Year after year, we tell folks that and maybe some of them started to listen,” said Fishel. "It makes you feel good to [know you’re saving lives]. It makes you feel like you're doing your job; you're doing what you need to do to let people know to slow down and not drink and drive. It makes it all feel worthwhile."