Imperial Valley Press

I. V. Traffic Statistics Explode Accident Theory, Leave Officers Puzzled

By MARGUERITE BROOKS

Imperial county traffic statistics again played hob with well established theories! Captain Frank Oswalt scratched his head in puzzlement as he considered the list of theories exploded by a report completed Wednesday.

First on the list came the old admonition "cut down the number of traffic deaths by reducing the number of traffic accidents." There were 30 less accidents thus far this year than during a similar period last year but there were twice as many persons killed.

"Too many jackpots," muttered Oswalt. There were seven persons killed in one accident. The average was two victims per accident.

The highway patrol is responsible for traffic accidents on rural highways while those in incorporated cities are the responsibility of city police. Oswalt's traffic death totals include only victims killed on roads outside incorporated areas.

The total killed in rural areas since Jan. 1 was 37, he said.

Another theory went down before the statistics table showing the number of accidents during various periods of the day.

It is more dangerous to be on the highways between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. than at any other period in the 24 hours," Oswalt declared, "in spite of the fact many motorists insist it is more dangerous to be on the rural roads late at night when sleepy or drunk drivers increase the hazards."

The next dangerous period is from midnight to 8 a.m. and the third most dangerous from 8 a.m. to noon, judging by the time accidents occurred in the last three months.

Drunkenness, as usually assumed, did not cause most of the accidents but was well down on the list of accident causes.

Major cause of accidents were in order of their frequency: excessive speed, improper parking, sleepy drivers, driving on the wrong side of the road, cars getting out of control, violation of right of way at intersections, driving while drunk, improper turning, defective equipment, and others.

In July, August, and September, 23.52 per cent of the traffic accidents occurred within a 6 mile radius of El Centro, 22.05 per cent within a 6 mile radius of Brawley, 10.29 per cent within 6 miles of Holtville, 4.41 per cent within a like distance of Calexico, 2.94 per cent within 6 miles of Winterhaven, 4.41 per cent within 6 miles of Seeley and 32.34 per cent in other areas of the county's rural districts.