Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-12-18 | Page 13 | S. L. Traffic Outlook Bright for New Year

S. L. Traffic Outlook Bright for New Year Record Accident Reduction Seen If Present Watchfulness Is Continued By BOB HALE A Happy New Year from the traffic safety standpoint was in the cards Monday for both Salt Lake City and Salt Lake county. Only a sudden, terrific carnage on streets and highways can prevent pre-vent a reduction all along the line in total accidents, injuries and deaths from last year. And such a happening, on the basis of experience, expe-rience, is virtually impossible. The optimism is based on fact, not hope. For instance, to spoil a record of total accident reduction, Salt Lake City would have to have nearly 400 accidents between now and the end of the year, while the average for 1939 to date is less than 120 tor a full month. Only two "black spots" in the records for city and county prevent pre-vent a straight-line, three-year reduction in accidents, injuries and deaths. These black marks are the 50 killed in Salt Lake county last year, the high figures being caused by the December 1, 1938, school bus-train collision that killed 24, and the 15-year high of 43 persons killed in Salt Lake City. The figures, compiled by George French, city traffic commission commis-sion secretary, are: SALT LAKE CITY Accidents Injuries Deaths 1937 2047 1169 38 1C38 1705 942 43 1938 (To December 18) 1320 895 21 SALT LAKE COUNTY (Outside Salt Lake City) Accidents Injuries Deaths 1937... 4 393 290 34 1938 352 285 50 1939 (To Deeember 18) 283 187 22 The table shows a constant three-year reduction in accidents and injuries in both city and county. Only in deaths were there fluctuations. But the 1939 death tolls in Salt Lake City and county are not only well under those of 1938, but considerably less than in 1937 with the year drawing to a close ... , Only the hazards of winter driving, plus the holiday traffic and imbibing celebrations, stand in the way of keeping the record as good as it is right now.