NASHVILLE (AP) - The New Year's holiday weekend that began this year was the safest on record on Tennessee roads.

The Department of Safety and Homeland Security said two people were killed during the period, which extended from 6 p.m. on Dec. 30 to midnight Jan. 2 - a time span of 78 hours. That compares with six traffic deaths during the same holiday period last year.

The 2010-2011 holiday figure was the previous low death count for the New Year's period.

The deadliest New Year's holiday count came during a 78-hour period in 1970-71 when crashes killed 19 people in Tennessee.

Troopers' reports on the most recent holiday period showed neither victim wore a seat belt. Alcohol was cited as a factor in one of the fatal crashes.