U.S. ROAD DEATHS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29398, 28 December 1960, Page 9

U.S. ROAD DEATHS

Estimate Not Reached NEW YORK, December 27. Four hundred and sixty-six motorists died on American roads during the 78-hour period which ended at midnight. This made it comparatively the safest Christmas week-end since 1949, when 413 motorists died. There were 27 more road deaths last year. The final death roll as the result of other causes is not yet known. The latest figures were 75 deaths from fires, and 99 from miscellaneous causes. Officials said late last night that it was possible that the final death toll would be below the Safety Council’s pre-holiday estimate of 510 traffic fatalities. Last year 481 people perished on the roads, well below the record of 609 deaths during the 78hour Christmas week-end of 1955. Motorists were dying at the rate of six an hour on the United States highways yesterday as holiday-makers drove home, often over roads made treacherous by thin ice or snow. An average of 310 persons die on American roads during a non-holiday period of 78 hours.

Last night the Safety Council estimated that traffic mishaps during the New Year holiday week-end might claim as many as 340 lives. The projected death toll for the period—which will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday—compares with 374 killed during a similar three-day week-end a year ago. The figure set a record for the New Year holiday.