Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-25
Holiday Traffic
Deaths Headed
For New Peak
$50 Fatalities Listed
With Heaviest TruveI
Due in Final Hours
BY the Associated Press

Traftlc deaths across the Ma
ton mounted steadily Christmas
Day and safety experts said it
appeared the final toll would set
an all-time holiday record.
A total of SIS deaths from
traffic mishaps already had been
counted today with the heaviest
travel still to come during the
final hours Of the four day holi-
day. The record traffic total for
any holiday period is SOC during
the 1855 three-day Christmas
week end.
The National Safety Council
said it expects the holiday
estimate of $50 highway deaths
to be exceeded. The council said
some 40 million cars will be on
the streets and highways during
the last IL hours of Christmas.
"TragicaIly on Schedule"
"The death rate in traffic has
been tragically on schedule forl
topping our estimate of record
$50 holiday fatality TOLL" said
Ned H. Dearborn, council presi-
dent.
The overall total of accidental
deaths since the count started at
6 pm. local time) Friday was
673, including 80 in fires and
IS in miscellaneous accidents.
Last years Christmas overall to-
tai was 1872.
Weather conditions over most
Of the country improved yester-
day and a clearing trend was in
dicated for most areas today.
Fog and rain extended over wide
sections of the Eastern half of
the Nation in the first half of
the Christmas week end. creating
hazardous driving conditions.
However. safety experts warned
of travel dangers on the holiday,
including winter driving condi-
tons, minimum of daylight and
holiday drinking.
Needless and Senseless'
Leading in traffic deaths were
California, Illinois. Texas, Mich
1gan, New York and Ohio. Three
States - Maine, North Dakota
and Wyoming - reported no
traffic fatalities.
Mr.. Dearborn, commenting on
the heavy traffic toll, said:
THE most horrible aspect Of |
this carnage is, that it is need
less and senseless. 1t could be
curbed sharply If drivers exem-
plified the spirit of Christmas. |
They've shared gifts: they
should apply that same thought |
fitness to sharing the road"
Traffic deaths in the Nation
In the first 10 months this year
averaged log a day. An Asso-
ciated Press survey during al
nonholiday period, from 6 pm.
Friday to midnight Tuesday of
the December l4-l8 week end.
showed 500 traffic deaths. The
overall total of accidental
deaths was 5S7, including q in
fires and 60 in miscellaneous
mishaps.
Deaths by States
Deaths by States. with traffic,
fire and miscellaneous accidents
In that order:
Alabama-ll. /, 2; Arizona
8. /, L; Arkansas-10, /, 3; Cali
fornia--49. 2. S; Colorado, O..
8: Connecticut, S, o: Della
ware-1, 0, 0; Florida-l8. 0. A.:
Georgia--l5, 0. O; Idaho, 0, /:
Illinois-45, /. 3; Indiana-ll.
0, 2: Iowa--6. 0, /; Kansas-l8,
o, 2; Kentucky-13. 0, 2; Louisi-
ana-17. 0. 2; Maine-0. 3. 0.
Maryland-5, 0. 1: .Massachu-
setts-9, /. /: Michigan-30. 2,
o: Minnesota-8, 7. 3; Missis-
sippi-10. 0, 3; Missouri-l5.
4, 2; Montana, l. O; Nebraska
"a, 0. 3; Nevada-3. 0. 0; New
Jersey-l4. 0. /; New York
20, 0. o.; New Hampshire, 0.
/; New Mexico-9, 0. o; North
Carolina-28, 0. 3; Ohio-27.
!. 7; Oklahoma-10. 0, 0.
Oregon. 0. o: Pennsylvania
e--l2. /. Z; Rhode Island-l. 0. 1:
South Carolina-1l, 0, 8; South
Dakota. 0, 0: Tennessee-ll,
o. 2: Texas--35, 0. S; Utah---5.
o. 3: VERMONT. 0. O.; Virginia
10, 0. /: Washington--5. 0, /:
West Virginia.. 0. /; Wiscon-
sin-lS. o. 0: wyomingx0. /. 0;