Evening star., 1943-03-31
u. ). Traffic Deaths
In February Called
Lowest in Is Years
Sofety Council Reports
Wartime Restrictions
Helped Cut Fatalities
sy the Associated Press.

Sy the Associated Press
CHICAGO, March 31.-The Ma
tion's traffic deaths in February were
the lowest in Is years, the National
Safety Council said today, but cited
figures which it said indicated a sta
bilizing of the toll at levels from 40
to so below those OF 1941, the last
pre-war year.
Although the 600 toll last month
was 80 per cent below the February,
1912, total and SO per cent lower than
the all-time February high of 2,579
in 1941, the council said the figures
provided additional evidence that
the sharp declines in traffic deaths
that started last year with wartime
restrictions, apparently had touched
bottom"
Report Analysed.
The council said that last months
drop Of AZ per cent recorded in the
last six months of 1912, and cited the
Is per cent decrease in January and
IS per cent in December, 1912.
There is little basis for hope" the
council said. that the Nation can
expect constantly increasing declines
to result merely from wartime traffic
restrictions Our figures indicate a
stabilizing OF the traffic toll at levels
from 40 to so per cent below those of
l94l. the last pre-War year when
80 969 persons were Killed"
The council said travel trends had
not been determined but it believes
that the death trends themselves
prompt the conclusion that mile
age rationing now in effect probably
has made its full cut in travel and
that wartime traffic will continue at
present levels"
217 Perfect Records.
For the first two months this year,
the South Atlantic States showed
the largest drop in traffic fatalities
so per cent-the council reported.
adding that both the South Atlantic
and the North Central States have
effected greater reductions in their
traffic tolls than the North Atlantic
States, despite the ban on pleasure
driving in the latter area. Moreover.
the council reported, fatality de-
creases in the North Atlantic States
were considerably less throughout
1912 than in other sections of the
country.
A total of 277 of 328 reporting
cities had perfect records for Feb
ruary Minneapolis, 492,4 400 popu-
lation, was the largest; Rochester,
N Y, 325, 900. second largest, and
Dallas, 94700, was third.
The decrease in traffic deaths In
the South Atlantic States in Feb
ruary was 48 per cent. while for the
first two months of 1943, the drop in
North Central States was 46 per
cent and for February, 43 per cent;
North Atlantic. 40 and 35 per cent;
Mountain, SO and Sd per cent; South
Central, 80 and l6 per cent, and Pa
cif1c, 80 and 80 per cent.
Five Heavy Drops.
Five States had drops of so per
cent or more for the first two months
OF l943. They were Minnesota and
South Dakota, each 81 per cent;
Georgia and Virginia. each 81 per
cent, and Montana, 60 per cent.
In all States and regions the big
gest reductions continued to be in
rural rather than city areas. Sirni-
larly. reductions were greater in
smaller cities than in larger.
More than one-half the cities re-
porting -177-had perfect. records
for the first two months in 1943.
Springfield, Mass, was largest, and
Trenton, N. j., and Spokane, Wash.
ranked second and third, respec-
lively.
Among cities with more than 500
900 population, Milwaukee had the
lowest population traffic death rate,
81. ST. Louis was second with 81
and Detroit third with 1871 for the
first two months of 1943
In the 250000-500 900 population
group. the population death rank
ratings were Minneapolis, Mimi.
12; Rochester, N. Y, 18, and Provi-
dence. R. l., A.
Among other population groups
the following cities were leaders, all
having perfect no-fatality records:
Population of 100000 to 250000,
Trenton. Spokane, Wash. and
Springfield Mass: $4,000 to 100000,
Lansing. Mich; Springfield, ILL., and
Austin. Tex; $4,000 to $4,000. Battle
Creek. Mich; Muskegon, Mich, and
Orlando, Fla; 10000 to $4,000 Kla-
math Falls, Greg: Kenmore, N. Y,
and CheVenne WVO