The Russellville Police Department will be conducting safety checkpoints over the New Year’s holiday.

The checkpoints will be held from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Locations of the checkpoints will be N. Main Street, US 431 North, US 431 South, US 79 North, US 79 South, US 68 East and US 68 West.

The Russellville Police Department wants everyone to stay as safe as possible during the holidays - and that means no drinking and driving.

The Kentucky State Police stated this week that preliminary statistics indicate 11 people died in five separate crashes on Kentucky roadways during the Christmas holiday period beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, extending through Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012 at 11:59 p.m.

Crashes occurred in Christian, Clark, Jefferson, Knox and Pike counties. Ten of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and six of the victims were not wearing seat belts. The crashes in Christian, Knox and Pike counties involved the suspected use of alcohol.

One single fatality crash occurred in Pike County. Two double fatality crashes occurred in both Christian and Clark counties.

Five people were killed in a crash that occurred in Knox County. One pedestrian involved fatality occurred in Jefferson County.

Through Dec. 25, 2012, preliminary statistics indicate that 729 people have lost their lives on Kentucky roadways during 2012. This is 16 more fatalities than reported for the same time period in 2011. There have been 578 motor vehicle fatalities and 317 of those victims were not wearing seat belts. Sixty-four of those crashes involved a commercial motor vehicle. Seventy-six crashes involved a motorcycle and 39 victims were not wearing helmets. Fourteen crashes involved an ATV and 12 victims were not wearing helmets. Fifty-three crashes involved pedestrians and 7 involved a bicycle. One crash involved a scooter. A total of 139 fatalities have resulted from crashes involving the suspected use of alcohol.