Show A Bad Traffic Safety Safety Year U UTAH TAH didn't do very well in traffic safety during 1941 We Vie killed persons on our streets and highways during the year and that figure may be increased if any victims of accidents which occurred during 1941 should die of their injuries As it stands the death toll of is the third worst in Utah's history We had 20 deaths in 1937 and deaths the following year It is significant that these previous heavy traffic death tolls occurred before any organized organized organized or or- safety effort was launched in Utah When we became alarmed over this huge traffic traffic traffic fic death toll and began our safety effort we immediately cut fatalities fatalities to to in 1939 and to in 1940 It seems obvious that part at least of the cause of our bad showing last year resulted from a relaxation of f our safety effort in Utah An increase of 28 per cent in fatalities over 1939 and of 20 per cent over 1940 is too much I to be explained as solely due to increased travel and defense activity There is proof of that in the showing made by our neighbor state of Idaho where population population population lation traffic conditions and travel are so similar that there are good grounds for com corn parison Idaho had hada a very considerable decrease decrease decrease de de- de- de crease in fatalities compared to Idaho also held its toll close to its year 10 average of deaths while Utah's toll was far above its average of It is a fact that we have slipped back in our our pur traffic safety effort in Utah this year We Weh h have ve not had a program energetically pursued and we have not had the full cooperation and effort of officials concerned with traffic The failure failure has been largely due to disorganization tion resulting from the change in political ad ad- ministrations Officials concerned with traffic have been confused and uncertain Old officials officials officials didn't know where they stood or how howlong howlong howlong long they were going to be on on the job New officials lacked experience and land a positive program program pro- pro gram igram The Utah safety council has been in a state of suspended animation uncertain as to its position and unable to secure more than official lip service in the way of cooperation We have been asleep on traffic safety in Utah during 1941 Its It's a fact Lets Let's admit it But now lets let's f forget it This is a new newy y year ar We can begin with a clean sheet We can reestablish a real traffic safety program and get results in 1942 The disorganization and the confusion resulting from political changes ought to be over by now New officials concerned concerned concerned con- con with traffic ought to know where they stand and where they are going The safety council can and should be recognized and organized organized or or- organized for effective work Traffic safety in Utah is a prim primary ry responsibility rei re- re i t of the s state administration t a n. n e. e rr j F Lesser officials safety councils and civic groups can and will do the work but it is up to the governor to give them the go sign We hope he gives that sign without delay both for the sake of the prevention of accidents accidents accidents acci acci- dents and deaths on our highways and for forthe forthe forthe the sake of the record of his administration which so far as concerns traffic safety has been bad |