Topeka ? There were no fatal accidents on Kansas highways over the Christmas weekend, and significantly fewer drivers were cited for drunken driving or other violations compared with last year, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported.

Last Christmas weekend, there was one DUI-related fatal accident and one non-DUI related fatality.

According to preliminary figures released Wednesday, KHP issued only seven DUI citations over the Christmas weekend, compared with 17 the year before. Speeding citations were also down this year, with 550 being issued over the weekend, 14 percent less than the 2014 holiday weekend.

There was also a 25 percent drop in the number of seat-belt and child-restraint citations issued.

KHP spokesman Stephen Larow said one factor contributing to the lower numbers is understaffing at the Highway Patrol. He said there are currently 80 vacant trooper positions in the department, and since half of the troopers work over a holiday weekend, that translates into 40 fewer troopers on the road than normal.

He also noted this year’s shorter holiday weekend. Christmas fell on a Friday this year, but fell on a Thursday in 2014. KHP measured the two weekends from 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve through 11:59 p.m. the following Sunday.

Heavy rains and icy road conditions Saturday and Sunday also may have kept many motorists off the road this holiday weekend, he said.