Show Backsliding on n a et in in Ih Utah With 12 deaths in the state so far this month six of them in hi just one week Utah is backsliding on traffic safety Six fatalities last week were followed Wednesday night by two more deaths in ina ina ina a spectacular on head-on collision north of Ogden The latest fatalities pushed the states state's 1946 toll to 62 which compares with only 40 last year at the same time We Ve had a very bad start this year In the first two months we piled up 43 deaths Aroused over that terrific toll the officials and people of the state set out to do something about it We Ve succeeded very well during the month of March holding fatalities to seven But apparently apparently apparently ap ap- ap- ap the safety fever has worn off somewhat and as a are are- re re- result suit sult the fatality rate mounted again this month We have got to reduce accidents and fatalities drastically if we are to maintain any kind of a safety record in Utah during this year At our present rate of killing we would finish the year with the sHocking total of about fatalities It is time for officials and motorists to renew their concern before the situation situation situa- situa tion gets out of hand There is one bright spot in the Utah traffic picture and that thatis is Salt Lake City Since the latter part of February we have done very well weB At that time we had piled up in hi less than two months a total of eight fatalities Since then in a greater period totaling 65 days we have had only one fatality We Ve had a day 40 period up to April 1 with no deaths and since a fatal accident which occurred on April 1 the city's record is clean As a result we now have fewer fatalities than we had at the same date last year It can be done Salt Lake City's record proves it But it can only be done if officials and courts backed up by the public generally are determined to enforce safe driving laws and regu regu- lations Lets Let's keep up the good work in Salt Lake City and hope that the city's example will inspire other communities and officers officers cers cera courts and the public generally throughout the state to renewed and intensified safety effort |