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Show Let's Avoid Christmas Accidents More fatal traffic accidents, including more pedestrian deaths, happen each Christmas Eve than at any other comparable time of the year. The National Safety Council, which compile holiday statistics, sta-tistics, says that 6 to 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve is the deadliest hour both for drivers and pedestrians. Darkness, bad weather, speed, alcohol and pedestrian errors are the causes of the high toll. Since many persons will have a four day holiday both at Christmas and New Year's, the Council fears the seasons high- (Continued on Page Four) Lets Avoid Christmas Accidents (Continued from Page One) way toll may hit an all-time high unless drivers, pedestrians and enforcement officials take extra precaution. During the 1956 Christmas-New Year holidays, each of four days, traffic claimed 706 lives at Christmas and 409 during New Year's. Last yearw, when msot persons had only a one day holiday, the traffic toll was 224 for Christmas and 160 for New Year's. Council surveys of last year's toll show that 72 per cent of the fatal accidents involved speed too fast for conditions. Drinking drivers were involved in 55 per cent of the fatal and non-fatal accidents. In an effort to combat holiday drinking and driving, the Council has asked its 8,000 business and industrial members to take a new look at their office parties. "Keep the cork in the bottle or eliminate the parties," the Council asks. Social drinkers not the obvious drunk are the big menace on the highway and the Council warns that three hours are needed to eliminate the effect of two cocktails. "If office parties are kept dry, workers and their families may escape the tragedy of a saddened Christmas Eve," said the Council. . 1 v n i, |