In asklngfor driver cooperation during the long Memorial Day

In asklngfor driver cooperation during the long Memorial Day holiday, Colonel H. W. Burgess, Chairman of the Gov ernor’s Highway Safety Committee and Superintendent of State Police, noted that alcohol, speed and exhaustion were largely responsible for the 15 fatal crashes which caused 21 deaths during the holiday period last year. “These factors," he said, "dominate all summer weekends and many of these produce more fatalities than do the ones including holidays.” Of the 15 fatal crashes la6t year, 10 involved but one motor vehicle. In eight of the crashes, a driver known to have been drinking was involved and in three of the crashes involving two vehicles each, both drivers were drinking. Speed, either in excess of posted limits or too fast for conditions, figures in eight. Seventeen of the people kilted were Virginia residents and 10 were within a 10-mile radi us of their homes. Three more were within a 25 mile radius. Four from another state were killed in the same crash. Colonel Burgess stated that exhaustion and drowsiness are difficult to establish but in sev era 1 of the single-car crashes it could be determined that the driver had not been drinking, was not ill and was not operat ing at an excessive speed. The cars simply left the highway, usually on a curve. Seventeen of the victims had seatbelts readily available but none had fastened his. Here, Colonel Burgess noted that the universal wearing of seatbelts could have cut last year’s national toll of 53,000by 8,000 to 10,000. In addition, many thousands of injuries would have been prevented or lessened in severity.