The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-20

Passenger cars. buses and inter- state buses were registered in in- creased numbers during 1881, whil there were decreases in com- mercials, taxis and nveries. motor cycles and other types. The inter- state bus was the only type of ve- hicle against which an increase in accidents was recorded.
 "The operators in the age group 20-29 years provided the largest number involved inaccidents of all kinds. There were 10,324 of this group involved, or 7.7 per cent of the 133,S53 licensed to drive. The largest percentage in accidents was furnished by the IS and 19 year old drivers, however. although only 1,761 of this group were involved. There were S.3 per cent in acci- dents of the total number licensed. Approximately six per cent of the 16 and IT year old drivers were in accidents, or 732 out of 11,630. There were 7.660 out of 117,629 in the 30-39 year group: 4.692 out of 75.950 in the 40-49; .2.172 out of 37,360 in the 50-50; 753 out of 12.- 2,411 who were 70 years old or more.
 During the year, 91 pedestrians were killed while 'jay-walking,' that is, crossing streets carelessly at for pedestrian use: nine while crossing streets when traffic signals were set against them; and 3I after stepping from behind parked cars without first giving attention to moving traffic. There is knowl- edge of IS cases in each of which the intoxication of the pedestrian was contributing cause of his death.
 '"Thirty-two of the 442 fatal acci- dents were multiple-victim acci- dents, that is. there were two or more persons killed in each acci- dent. There was one accident with five victims, one with four, three with three and 27 with two.
 More than half of the fatal ac- cidents occurred in the heavy traffic areas embracing the large cities and their connecting through traffic routes. There were 282 of the 442 fatal accidents in the towns and cities through which run the Boston Post road, or Route U. S. 1, and Routes U. S. 5 and Route 8 from the Sound through Waterbury. While the majority of fatal acci- dents occurred in populous centers and on main routes, the highest death rates were, however. in the less congested areas. The percent age of fatal accidents to all acci- dents in Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford counties, where the most accidents occurred, was lower than the average for the state, and be- low the percentage for Windham, Holland. New London and Middle sex counties.
 Five hundred and forty-five op- orators were involved one way or another in fatal accidents. Ninety one of these were operators from other states. Examination of driv- ing records show that 336 had never been involved in accidents of any kind prior to the fatal acci- dents. 188 had previous accident records while there was some doubt as to the records of 21 oper- ators. Seventy-two of those who had accident records also had dis ciplinary records, that is, they had been in court or suspended by the department for some violation of the motor vehicle laws that had no connection with accidents. Seventy had disciplinary records because of action following pre- vious accidents. Of the 1SS with previous accident records 97 had been in one accident. 47 had been in two, 20 had been in three acc;- dents. and "A had been in four or more. So far as can be determined 52S of the 545 drivers involved had had driving experience of more than one year"