JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Roads in the Sunshine State are becoming safer, with the number of traffic fatalities down for the second year in a row.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the number of fatal accidents in 2007 and the number of deaths from those accidents are both down more than 4 percent from 2006, and they're glad to see it.

"We continue to do a lot of education," FHP Lt. Bill Leeper said. "We hope motorists are getting the message to obey the traffic laws and just drive better."

The total number of injury accidents was also down, but only by 1 percent.

But the statistics are not all positive. Alcohol-related fatalities are up more than 13 percent.

"Which means too many people are drinking and driving, making bad decisions, getting behind the wheel," Leeper said.

The number of crashes involving motorcycles is also up -- by just over 2 percent -- and the number of motorcyclist injured is rising.

FHP officials said that while these numbers do fluctuate from year to year, they hope these fatal crashes decrease for a third year in a row.

More Online: Florida 2007 Crash Statistics