Fourth of July Traffic Deaths Drop Sharply

The number of people killed in traffic accidents over the Fourth of July holiday weekend dropped sharply compared to last year, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Pablo Torres, CHP public affairs officer, reported Tuesday that 34 people died in traffic accidents statewide, compared to 54 last year--a 37% drop.

In Los Angeles County, seven people died, compared to eight in 1993, according to statistics compiled by the CHP and city police departments.

“That’s because of all of the proactive programs our agency and other law enforcement agencies have been involved in,” Torres said of the drop. “They’re out there giving information to the motoring public--that helps a lot. Also, there have been more strict laws--that helps a lot, too, in minimizing incidents.”

The Highway Patrol made 1,661 drunk-driving arrests in CHP jurisdictions statewide--that is, on freeways and in unincorporated areas--compared to 2,006 last year, a 17% decline. It made 338 such arrests in Los Angeles County, or 21% less than last year’s 426 arrests.

Locally, one traffic fatality was logged in the CHP’s West Valley office. The Los Angeles Police Department also reported one other fatality on city streets in the San Fernando Valley.

The CHP made a total of 74 drunk-driving arrests in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, including 36 in the west San Fernando Valley, 18 in the Altadena/Verdugo Hills area, 12 in the Newhall area and eight in the Antelope Valley.

According to Torres, eight people who died in CHP jurisdictions statewide were not wearing seat belts. There were no motorcycle fatalities that were due to not wearing a helmet.

These statistics were compiled during a 78-hour period that began at 6 p.m. Friday and ended at midnight Monday.