OCR Text |
Show Stle Creek Q.- The Increase this time was more than expected. In fact such has been the case for the last three or four years. But not nearly near-ly so much as the hike this year. Early last week we received a notice through the mail that the automobile insurance on Blue Bel-indy Bel-indy was due and payable on Oct. 29. The total premium asked was about $25 more than we paid on old Gray Betsy 'the year previous. pre-vious. In order to take some of the sting out of the uppance, the in. su ranee company sent congratulations congratul-ations and a notation that the premium had been reduced 25 per cent as a reward for our "accident free" record and general gener-al good behavior. In response to inquiry, the company's com-pany's agent informed us that the blue book value and the extra glass and chrome on Blue Bel-indy Bel-indy over the same appointments on Gray Betsy made the premium for "comprehensive" coverage somewhat higher this year. But that Isn't the whole story. Car insurance rates continue to jump upward in Utah because of the disgraceful driving habits of our citizens. Even with the increased in-creased premiums, some insurance insur-ance companies have been losing money on their Utah business. Nationally the picture is not much brighter. Every 11 B:eonds someone is seriously Injured and every 14 minutes a person Is kill. ed on American highways. And ' the rate of injuiy and death is Increasing in most of the states. So far this year 189 Utah residents resi-dents have met death on the streets and highways of the state. This Is 38 more than were killed as of October 10 last year. Worst of all, at least 90 per cent of the fatal accidents need never have happened. Such official explanations as "the car failed to make the curve" or "the collison occurred headon on a straight piece of road in broad daylight" are proof that some drivers actually suffer mental lapses. Tom Boate, veteran Pennsylvania Pennsyl-vania state trooper stated in this connection, "No man in this world i3 competent to continuously operate op-erate an automobile with complete com-plete safety at 65 miles per hour. If I had my way, I would make our highway signs read "Beware! "Be-ware! Every fifth driver traveling travel-ing this road Is insane!" There is no doubt that excessive exces-sive speed is the contributing fac. tor in most of our fatal accidents. Yet there are those in high places plac-es in Utah who advocate higher legal speeds on our highways. How foolish can they get ? The only reason a rifle bullet does more damage than a stone thrown from a slingshot is the fact that the bullet travels at so much faster speed. So long 'til Thursday. |