Traffic deaths in Nebraska are at a 60-year low heading into Labor Day weekend.

As of midday Thursday, there were 126 traffic deaths so far this year, down from 173 the same time last year.

From 2004 through 2007, the average at this time of year was 169 fatalities.

Gov. Dave Heineman attributes the decline to enforcement, safety education, and other efforts by state agencies such as the Department of Roads.

But Adrian Lund of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has said that the sluggish economy and high gas prices were likely a factor in declines across the country.

Nationally, there was a decline in traffic deaths last year and many states have reported double-digit drops in fatalities during the first part of this year.