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The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
1954 Alaska traffic report by Department of Territorial Police, cited by Chief Clyde Glass, attributes 66% of fatalities to speed and 47% to drunk driving, exceeding U.S. rates; recommends drunkometer and radar for enforcement.
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Police Chief Clyde Glass calls attention to the report of the Department of Territorial Police on violations. We quote:
Principal Violations Involved In Motor Vehicle Accidents
A-Fatality Accidents:
66% of the traffic fatalities occurring during 1954 can be attributed in whole, or in part, to excess speed.
47% of the traffic fatalities involved driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
Alaska has had twice as many fatal accidents in which driving under the influence was an element, as did the entire U.S. on a percentage basis.
B-Non-Fatal Accidents
The principal causes of non-fatal motor vehicle accidents, in the order of their importance were:
Speed;
Following too closely;
Failure to yield right of way.
Speed was the cause of 19% of the motor vehicle accidents, and following too closely and failure to yield right of way were each responsible for 11% of the accidents occurring during 1954.
An unusually high percentage, 9%, of the accidents were caused by improper parking location, and improper start from a parked position.
Accident Prevention and Traffic Law Enforcement
Use of Drunkometer and Radar
Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor is one of the most hazardous traffic law violation. Alaskan experience has shown that the "drinking driver" is responsible for a disproportionately large number of traffic fatalities and accidents.
The use of chemical tests to determine intoxication (was) inaugurated during 1954, together with a program of public education in the theory and accuracy of this machine. The widespread use of this instrument can greatly reduce the number of traffic law violations of this type, and improve the reliability of evidence presented in court.
Another serious violation contributing to fatal and injury accidents is speed. Sixty-six percent of our fatalities in 1954 can be attributed to this cause. The introduction of radar devices has proved invaluable to other agencies in reducing the incidence of this violation. It is hoped that during 1955 instruments of this type can be made available for use by the officers of this department.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Alaska
Event Date
1954
Key Persons
Outcome
66% of traffic fatalities attributed to excess speed; 47% involved driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor; alaska had twice as many fatal accidents involving drunk driving as the u.s. percentage; non-fatal accidents: 19% due to speed, 11% following too closely, 11% failure to yield right of way, 9% improper parking or start from parked position.
Event Details
Police Chief Clyde Glass highlights Department of Territorial Police report on 1954 motor vehicle accidents. Principal violations in fatal accidents: excess speed (66%), driving under influence (47%). Non-fatal: speed (19%), following too closely (11%), failure to yield (11%), improper parking/start (9%). Introduces drunkometer for intoxication tests and public education; hopes for radar in 1955 to reduce speed violations.