FEW ACCIDENTS REPORTED OVER NEW YEAR'S

The new year came in like a lamb as far as area law enforcement was concerned.

The year closed with bone-chilling cold weather and freezing rain Thursday. But the precipitation ended before evening and there were few accidents in Southeast Missouri New Year's Eve, Cape Girardeau police and the Missouri Highway Patrol said.

A dozen accidents were reported in the patrol's 13-county Troop E region Thursday, but none involved injuries, said Sgt. J.E. Bacon.

State troopers handled two driving-while-intoxicated cases during the 24-hour period that ended at midnight Thursday.

Last year during the same period there were five injury accidents and seven DWI arrests, Bacon said.

The icy weather was blamed for a number of accidents Thursday. "We had several off in the ditch up around Madison County on account of the ice," he said.

"It was better down south; we didn't get the freezing rain down there. Cape was about as far south as it went," he said.

The bad weather may have helped keep some motorists off the road New Year's Eve, which probably helped keep accidents to a minimum, Bacon said.

The patrol fielded numerous calls from motorists Thursday who inquired about road conditions. "I think we discouraged several people from traveling," he said.

In all, there were 76 fatalities in the Troop E area of Southeast Missouri in 1992, down from 83 the previous year, 95 in 1990, and 96 in 1989.

In Cape Girardeau, only two accidents were reported from 2 p.m. through midnight Thursday and only one drunken-driving arrest was made. There were several incidents of peace disturbance and assault.

Patrolman Rick Price of the Cape Girardeau police said New Year's Eve came and went without any serious problems.

Price said he believes the public is more aware of alcohol abuse today. "I honestly believe that there are less drunk drivers on the road because people are more conscious of it."

Many area residents ushered in the new year at home rather than out on the road. "I think a lot of people stay home these days (on New Year's Eve)," Price said.

Bacon agreed that alcohol-awareness programs have helped reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads. "I think it is having an impact," he said.