Show Ugly I I Year I IFor II I For ForUS US I I Traffic I 1968 was an u ugly TAY ye f for ol j Americans Tragedy of sp AA magnitude became becam I Ia ia a frequent front page occur occUr occUr- rence But a quieter national nation nation- nation I I Ial al calamity took its dreadful dreadful dreadful dread dread- ful toll on all the days before before before be be- fore during and after alter the Tet offensive in Vietnam the riots nots the assassinations IT WAS quiet only because because because be- be j I cause it was not concentrated r rin in a single place at a single I J time There was no focus to put this misery on the front pages To the families I and friends of men I women and children killed in I auto accidents however it was the ultimate calamity I To the victims of f injury injury injury in in- jury it was hard core ag ag- I ony The economic loss I about billion dollars was I an appalling waste This view of 1968 is contained contained con- con conI I tamped in the annual booklet of highway accident statistics statistics statistics statis- statis j tics from The Travelers Insurance Insurance Insurance In- In Companies Statistics Statistics Statistics Statis- Statis i tics in the booklet were compiled compiled com com- piled from records of motor i vehicle departments throughout through through- i out the country THE 1968 highway toll followed followed followed fol- fol I lowed a year that saw a i j leveling off oce in the number of i highway deaths and injuries In 1967 approximately i I lives were lost in motor vehicle ve- ve vei i hide hicle mishaps i persons were injured Why the increase Was it because Americans were lulled by the improvement of the year THERE ARE perhaps as many reasons as there are people to voice opinions Whatever the reasons tragedy tragedy tragedy trag trag- edy remains More than 55 persons were killed and injured |