Show Better Enforcement Better I Kept Rec Records Key To Safety I Better Detter enforcement of of traffic laws and more uniformity In handling hand ling convictions of serious traffic offenses are the keys to Improved highway safety in Utah Utah Utah-so so say analysts of Utah Foundation in a research report on the traffic safety safety safe safe- ty problem In Utah released today to to- day dllY Improved records systems particularly particularly par par- the ilie prompt reporting and recording of major offenses clearing clearing clear clear- ing through a centralized record division would be a major spur to improved enforcement and judicial ju ju- handling In traffic ca cases es the report emphasizes The study points out that last year highway accidents In Utah took the lives of ot persons caused nearly Injuries and resulted In a total economic loss of approximately Experience Experience Ex Ex- Indicates that more than nine out of every ten highway accidents accidents ac ac- ac are caused by driving errors errors er er- er or by a combination of driving driving ing and pedestrian errors Commenting on needed changes I in record record keeping keeping the report says I that the present arrangement of having three separate agencies handle and analyze accident records records rec rec- and reports results In duplication duplication duplication dup dup- and overlapping Moreover Moreover More More- over the information derived through the present system is often often of ot ten t too o scanty to be used for effective corrective measures A consolidation of record handling handling handling hand hand- ling activities in Utah into a Q central central cen cen- records division not only would be In the Interest of efficiency efficiency ef ef- ef and economy but would also greatly the volume and quality of data available for accident prevention purposes Utah Foundation analysts say No cut clear policy polley of coordination coordination tion between state and local traffic traffic fic fie enforcement agencies exists at atthe atthe atthe the present time although some effort has been made during recent re re recent recent re- re cent years to encourage local communities to assume a great greater r portion of the responsibility for traffic enforcement work However However However How How- ever one of the problems in this regard has been the lack of training In traffic matters among many of the local police officers In order to be most effective the time and equipment of the State Highway Patrol should be utilized on those highway sections section's where accidents are occurring and during the hours that they are happening The key to such selective selective tive enforcement is an adequate records system Since the chief function of the ports entry and checking stas stations sta has been the collection of taxes and Tees fees fees fees' from resident truckers it would appear that this activity should be transferred from the State Highway P Patrol to the State Tax Commission Such a recommendation was made I in a special study prepared for forthe forthe forthe the Utah Legislative Council in 1952 The report notes that at the present time very few of the eli ell gible high school students In Utah complete a driver training course which will meet recently adopted standards Such courses have been recognized as an effective means of curbing the high accident rate among youthful drivers Studies In other states reveal that persons who have had driver education courses have fewer than 50 as many accidents as do untrained drivers Mr and Mrs Troy Black and Mrs Bert Ben Ellis accompanied Ra Ramon Ramon Ra- Ra mon Ellis to Grand Junction Tuesday Tuesday Tues Tues- day Where he was admitted to Veterans hospital for a back In In- jury He lie will be there for several days I |