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Show County Closes Blackest Year In Driving History With 12 Dead By LORIN D. SQUIRE State Patrolman Compiled in the records of the year just ended is the blackest page in the history of motor vehicle ve-hicle tragedies for Washington county. According to that record Washington county has charged against it: 12 dead a vast number num-ber of persons injured, . (several for life), and thousands of dollars dol-lars in property damage. These tragedies were caused from so-called so-called motor vehicle accidents. Statistics Prove Claims Statistics prove that motor vehicle ve-hicle accidents don't just happen, but are caused. Either the driver, he vehicle or the highway is at fault. Ninety per cent of all motor mo-tor vehicle accidents are caused from the violation of some motor vehicle law. So, it is a forgone conclusion that the "nut" that holds the steering wheel leads all other causes. Let us analyze why these died: One fell from a moving vehicle; one from colliding into the rear of (Continued on page six) Road Patrol Report (Continued from first page) a truck on a curve in the highway; high-way; two from passing another vehicle on a blind curve, resulting result-ing a collision and eight died in vehicles that left the highway on curves due to excessive speed. Five of these twelve dead were the result of boys and girls in their "teens" riding in cars driven by minor, unlicensed children, who had been permitted to learn to drive and on these occasions had taken the car without permission. Some of the things the Highway High-way Partol did to assist in correcting cor-recting these conditions in Washington Wash-ington county in 1941 were: Made over 200 arrests for violation vio-lation of the Motor Vehicle Law. Ten arrests were of parents for permitting children under the age of 16 to drive a motor vehicle and ten minor children were handled by the Juvenile court. Warning Tickets Issued A number of warning and equipment tickets were issued for minor motor vehicle law violations viola-tions and the correction of motor vehicle defects. The splendid work of the sheriff's sher-iff's department and the various citv officers with the many traf fic cases handled by them is not handled in this report. The Highway Patrol sincerely requests the cooperation of all drivers of motor vehicles to assist in making our highways safe by the odedience of our traffic laws and we specially stress the following: fol-lowing: Don't violate our laws by permitting per-mitting children under 16 years of age, under any circumstances, to learn to drive. Don't ever pass another vehicle on a blind curve or hill crest. Your life is too big a stake to gamble for the tew seconds saved. The white line on your side of the road is your danger signal. Don't fail to slow down at all "Slow" and "Curve" signs. Don't fail to come to a "complete stop" at all stop signs. Don't fail to give arm signals. Don't exceed the posted speed limits. One 60-Mile Speed Zone After careful engineering study the only 60-mile daylight speed zones in Washington county are on U. S. 91 from Harrisburg Junction Junc-tion to Anderson Junction and a i short stretch from the Iron county coun-ty line down to Ash Creek bridge. All other highways, unless restricted re-stricted have a day and night speed limit of 50 miles per hour and are not safe at a greater soeed. We urge a moderate speed and in cooperation with the National Defense recommend not over 40 miles per hour to save on tires, gas and cars. Tires will be worn thinner and speeds will be a greater hazard. Strict enforcement of motor vehicle ve-hicle laws is demanded by our safety heads therefore enforcement enforce-ment will be stricter and those who violate the traffic laws can expect to be arrested and penalized penal-ized for their violations. |
