| Show June Sees Death Of Fifteen On Utah Roads First Year of Toll Rises to 79 Speed Carelessness Blamed oj B By WILLIAM I F. F S 'S Death like Death like taxes taxes has has mounted steadily y on Utah highways highways through the war years and in the postwar era and Tuesday had bad reached a total of 79 fatalities at the way half-way mark in 1947 1917 End of f June brought the first six-month six period to a close closet and reve revealed the grim but unalterable fact that 1947 h has 8 been no year of f grace as far as Utah I motorists arid and state highway patrol records are concerned During During- the first half of- of of the year the 79 violent deaths deaths- chalked up topped all previous comparable periods since 1940 f J S I TRAFFIC DEATHS TO JUNE 30 OF BACH I 40 L 1942 i 1943 1944 h 1945 a 1941 II IIii III I ii Tracing Tracing- the rise of Utah highway traffic traffic- fatalities over the last Jut year eight period the chart shows gradual l increase creaso in death toll toU which h reached its peak in 1946 This years year's first six-month six total of 79 d deaths ath threatens to top the 1946 total of by end of 1947 1011 with the ec exception eption of 1941 when 80 death deaths deaths' w were re recorded and andt t the the peak peak y year year- of or 1946 which closed out the first six months with 91 fatalities on the death ledger Ju Junes June's 1 s 's total of 15 traffic deaths e was a shade under the three thre pr preceding months months of orthis this year ear but ut easily topp topped d January and February figures More to the point it was the highest number for any June over the last eight years except pt for 1941 which h showed 21 persons lost their liv lives in traffic accidents nb that month Many factors factors can be blamed for forthe the he rising year year-to-year casualty record according to P P. L L. Dow state highway patrol superintendent superintend superIntend- ent but the major cause is still what It It was back in the prewar days the days the variable human el element ment Almost without exception says Superintendent Dow its it's the careless careless careless care care- less speed-bent speed motorist who can be blamed for forthe the tragic st state wide wide te-wide death score Running a close sec second ond as cause in many accidents Is the scampering child too young to realize the inherent dangers dangers' of ofa ofa ofa a mechanized rushing age who d dashes hes into the the path of an oncomIng oncoming ing vehicle le while chasing a bouncing bouncing ing lag ball Bad weather faulty lights and me mechanism f unfamiliarIty unfamiliar- unfamiliar Ity with directions and road conditions conditions conditions' condi condl also play a grisly a. part In system systematically tem reducing the motoring population of Utah Uta year after year Study of Records A A stu study y of yearly fatalities figures figures figures fig fig- ures since 1940 might indicate that Utah motorists are developing worse driving h habits than they had before the w war r. r Or the postwar In increase rease in n number of vehicles on the many highways many of them driven by young inexperienced drivers taking full advantage of this ra- ra gasoline er era might account f for r th the rise in the death rate according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to tr traffic authorities Whatever the reasor reason a breakdown breakdown breakdown break break- down of figures figures' points poInts' a grim Jesson lesson lesson les Jes- les- les son to in the drivers driver's seat seat- Fat Fatalities Year First 6 Mos Years Year's Total 1940 72 1941 80 SO 80 1942 65 1943 40 1944 56 1945 60 60 1946 91 1947 79 77 I. I Entering the l last t. t half of 1947 Utah Uta motorists might po ponder these state hig highway way patrol figures e especially especially espe espe- pe- pe as they set out over state highways swarming with holiday traffic this week end T The e Independence Inde lade p day dar we week end set apart art for far celebration tion by this nations nation's loving freedom-loving citizens in past pasty y years ars has proved to be a period of tragedy for many U. U S. S fa families utes all beca because e of a tr traffic Wc accident Will Win this July 4 prove to be an exception exception ex ex- ex for Ut Utah motorists |
