Medford mail tribune., February 16, 1958, Image 10

TEN MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Sunday, February 16, 19S8
MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTION
The Main st. and Riverside ave. intersection
is the most dangerous intersection in Med
ford, according to the police map for 1957.
Police listed 16 collisions at the location
with one injury involved. The largest acci
dent of the year took place at the location
last fall when six cars tangled in a collision
MAIN ST. AND CENTRAL AVE. INTER
SECTION The Main st. and Central ave.
intersection is also on the police depart
ment list as one of the most dangerous in
Medford. The crossing listed 14 accidents
during 1957 with two injuries . involved,
police explained. They said the intersection
,. "
POLICE ADD TO MAP Medford City Police Lt. Rollie
Pean (left) points out an additional collision to add to the
police's traffic map to Patrolman Ted Whisler. The police
map'is kept up to date by the officers to give the department
an idea which sections of the city are the most accident
prone. The map is started on Jan. 1 each year. Maps com
pleted are sent to the department of city engineering for
traffic control study.
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WILL
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BE SOLD AT
1 'Cy
of already Lowest
Prices in Medford to
Make Room for a
Complete Line of
GARDEN SUPPLIES
r i ii 1 1 n 1 e
wneeiDarrows, nose, Kanes, sprayers, TOty
Sprinklers, and many others.
Everything for the
OPEN SUNDAYS AND EVENINGS
NHAniS inc.
Jim Bellinger, Prop.
Pacific Hiway - PLENTY OF FREE PARKING
during a Sunday afternoon. The crossing is
complete with traffic signals for cars mak
ing turns or continuing and for pedestrians,
police said. Police department officials
blamed lack of attention to driving habits
as the' major cause for accidents which
take place in the downtown area.
"1
is completely controlled with vehicle and
pedestrian signals. Police said a large num
ber of accidents with which took place in
the intersection area last year were caused
by drivers failing to maintain proper look
out. '
Miller Elected
Chorus President
Ashland Clarence L. Mil
ler, Medford, was elected
president of the Southern Ore
gon Men"s Chorus at a meet
ing at Southern Oregon col
lege last week.
The new choral group, spon
sored by the Ashland Lions
club, also elected Donald E.
Lewis and James K; Bartlett,
both of Ashland, as co-secre
taries, and Robert D. Pepper,
also of Ashland, as publicity
chairman.
The first action of the new
president was to select a com
mittee whjch will offer sug
gestions for a permanent
name for the organization, to
be voted on at the next meet
ing. Miller joined the director
of the group, Louis O. Clayson
of the SOC music department,
in extending a cordial invita
tion to male singers of all
ages who live within driving
distance of Ashland to attend
the meeting Tuesday, Feb. 18,
at 8 p.m., in room 210 of
Churchill- hall on the SOC
campus.
The inner domes of new
planetariums are made of
lightweight aluminum instead
of stainless steel.
QY;
ALL WHEEL GOODS
Bikes, Wagons, Trikes. Etc.
25" off
Wffe
Garden
Q
Maps Maintained
01 All Collisions
By Medford Police
By HAL LESSER
Mail Tribun Staff Wriier
Almost forget the minor
accident that took place, in
Medford last year?
Well, the Medford police
department and the depart
ment of public works haven't
forgotten it. If a police officer
was present, a record of the
officer's report was made and
if the accident occurred this
year a pin indicating the type
of accident is placed in
large map of the city in the
police department.
At the end of the year, the
map will, be transferred to
the public works department
along with all officer's and
driver's reports of vehicle col
lisions in Medford. The pub
lic works department now
has maps of 1957, 1956 and
1955 on which the number
and type of accident is avail
able by the type and number
of pins at accident locations.
Police use one red pin to
indicate an accident involving
either one or a number of
cars. A blue pin indicates an
accident involving pedestrian
and a vehicle. A green pin
means a collision between a
bicycle and a car, occurred,
and a red flag means five col
lisions at one location. A yel
low flag means a collision in
which there was an injury. A
black flag indicates , a colli
sion in which a death oc
curred. ,
Easily Visible
Police use a map about five
by seven feet. It is easily vis
ible from several feet away
and one can tell at a glance
which Medford intersections
are the most dangerous. The
public works department uses
a smaller scale map to make
storage easier. The maps are
in Vernon Thorpe's office
where they are placed on the
walls.
Police in charge of the map
are Patrolman Ted Whisler
and Lt.- Rollie Pean, both on
day shift. They also prepare
the smaller maps at the end
of the year for use by the
public works department.
Medford police, although
they never had conducted a
drive for tickets and do not
plan any drive, can tell at a
glance what sections of the
city are accident hazards and
what type accident occurs at
a particular point. Keeping
the map's pins and flags in
mind, patrolmen devote a
longer period of time to traf
fic patrol in those sections.
Reports and old maps are
kept in mind by Thorpe when
considering improvements m
the ' traffic control system.
Each report is filed by streets.
When a large number of acci
dents take place at, an inter
section which has no or little
traffic control, Thorpe can
tell at once by his file of acci
dents. It is then a simple mat
ter to begin correction by use
of traffic control.
Plans Improvement
Thorpe also can tell when a
large number of accidents oc
cur at a traffic controlled
intersection. He then plans,
with police department offi
cials, means to improve con
trol devices and what steps of
improvement will be neces
sary. Accidents are recorded
from state accident reports
turned in at the station, re
ports made by officers pres
ent at the scene and the total
year's figures which are given
to the department by the de
partment of motor vehicles at
the end of each year.
The project has grown into
a major time-consuming job
since it was put into opera
tion several years ago. Not
only because more complete
records are kept, but the in
creasing number of accidents
also is adding to the job.
The most dangerous inter
section in Medford during
1957 was at Riverside ave.
and Main st. Police recorded
16 accidents in which one per
son was injured at the inter
section during the year. Main
st. and Central ave. intersec
tion was the second most
dangerous, with 14 accidents
involving two injuries.
Most Injuries.
The intersection where the
most injuries occurred during
the year was Main and Front
sts. There were three injuries
and two pedestrians struck
by vehicles at the location.
Other dangerous intersec
tions during 1957, according
to the police map, are 12th st.
and Central ave., 13 acci
dents, three injuries; Sixth
and Front sts., 14 collisions;
Ninth st. and Central ave., 11
collisions; and Riverside ave.
and McAndrews rd., 10 colli
sions, three injuries.
Police named the most ac
cident-filled section of Med
ford during 1957 at Central
Klelp Cim,
ave. between 12th and Jack-
sts. They reported 119 colli-
sions in which there were
eight injuries and one acci-
dent involving a pedestrian.
Another dangerous section
was on Main st. between the
Bear Creek bridge and Holly
sts. where 93 collisions- oc
curred involving six injuries,
three pedestrians and one
death.
Traffic Deaths
Traffic deaths during the
year numbered four but only
two in what police termed the
downtown section. One death
was recorded at Fir and
Main sts., one at Main st. and
Riverside ave., one at High
way 62 and Delta Waters rd.
and one on Highway 99 near
a truck stop. Three of the
deaths were pedestrians. The
traffic fatality was at High
way 62 at Delta Waters rd.
Although police records
show most accidents take
place in the downtown sec
tion, there are several other
areas where traffic collisions
are frequent. The most dan
gerous section on the East
side is Main st. between Cra
ter Lake ave. and Cottage st.
Police report 22 collisions in
volving one pedestrian in the,
one-block area.
Also listed as dangerous yi
tersections are Stewart and
Riverside aves. and the Big
Y intersection of Highway 99,
62 and Table Rock rd. The
McAndrews rd. and Court st.
intersection also is danger
ous. There were seven colli
sions there during 1957.
Causes Listed
Police Capt. Clyde Ficht-
ner said the majority of the
collisions in the downtown
area were x rear-end, side
swipes and head-ons. He said
they were caused by drivers
following too close, failing to
maintain proper lookout, vio
lation of basic rule, improper
turns, improper lane usage
and failing to yield the right-
of-way.
Failing to maintain proper
lookout and failing to yield
the right-of-way caused most
of the collisions in the down
town area, he said. He blamed
most accidents on lack of
driving courtesy and inatten-
tiveness.
Fichtner said national re
search has proven that dri
vers involved in an accident
are almost always in viola
tion of some traffic law.
"Someone is always doing
something wrong in a colli
sion," he said. Medford police
officers do not cite drivers in
volved in collisions unless
they see the accident or can
make an investigation before
cars are moved, police offi
cials said. He said that most
drivers are cited for failure
to maintain proper lookout.
Another problem in en
forcement are drivers who hit
parked car or object and
then fail to leave informa
tion, Fichtner said. He ex
plained that several accidents
of this type occur during the
winter when fog is heavy and
driving conditions are poor.
Although damage may not
appear to be great, drivers of
cars involved in accidents are
required "to leave information
on the damaged car and fill
out an accident report, he
warned.
1,006 Accidents
According to police records,
OFFICE WORK NEEDED FOR RECORDS Mrs. Wilma
Rauch, secretary to Vernon Thorpe, city director of public
works, checks each police officer's report on collisions and
then files them according to streets for future use by the
traffic engineering department when they consider a change
or additional traffic control signals.
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V C O LAR Q U P
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BARKER'S
MAIN - CENTRAL
1,006 collisions took place in
Medford last year. The month
with the most recorded was
August with 113. December
followed with 111 accidents,
January with 88 and March
with 85. Fichtner said these
months always rate high be
cause of the fog during the
winter montns and the re
laxed condition of drivers
during August when there is
a large number of cart on
the highways.
About 94 per cent of the
accidents involved two cars,
about two per cent involved
pedestrians and another
per cent were cars running
off the road. Police officials
are unable to explain how so
many cars run off the road
during dry summer months as
during wet, foggy months.
The most collisions, broken
down by days of the week.
take place on Friday. These
were 176 of the 1,000 acci
dents recorded on Friday. On
Saturdays there were 169 and
on Sundays, the safest, there
were 104. Citations issued by
ponce run about the same
percentages, figures show. A
total of 3,373 citations were
issued for violations of driv
ing laws during 1957
The greatest number of
citations were issued on Sat
urday with 595, while Fridays
and Sundays there were 505
citations issued on those days
Times of Day
Times of day for accidents
show the 4 to 5 p.m. period
the most dangerous. A total
of 103 accidents took place in
that period. Between mid
night and 1 a.m. the greatest
number of citations were is
sued, 222
Police said drivers going to
work in the 6 to 7 a.m. period
violate many traffic regula
tions, as do people returning
from parties and athletic
events in the 10 to 11 p.m
period
Two-thirds of the total of
1,006 accidents in Medford
took place during the day
about 60 per cent in the
downtown area, about 35 per
cent in an intersection and
about '21 per cent at a loca
tion where traffic control de
vices were in operation, po
lice records show.
1,638 Drivers Involved
Of the 1,006 collisions, 1,-
698 drivers were involved
The largest single accident
involved six drivers. About
80 per cent of the total dri
vers involved m accidents
were men.
Some 335 drivers involved
in collisions were in the 25 to
34 year group. There were
286 drivers in the 35 to 44
year age group. Police report
ed 15 collisions involved
drivers less than 16 years old.
Injuries suffered in car col
lisions totaled 133. Fourteen
were hurt in collisions involv
ing cars and bicycles, and 20
were injured in car and pe
destrian accidents, police
said.. Most injuries resulted
when vehicles hit fixed ob
jects.
Twenty-one persons in the
25 to 33 year age group were
injured, and 18 in the 15 to
19 year age group were hurt.
Drivers Cited
Drivers were cited for a
driving violation in 250 acci
dents. In 179 crashes dri
vers were cited for following
too close
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POLICE RECORD 14 ACCIDENTS Med
ford police reported 14 collisions at the
Front and Sixth sts. intersection during
1957. Their records show this intersection
is one of the most hazardous in the city
despite being controlled with traffic sig-
A recent project of the Al
trusa club, a women's service
group, was a "traffic hazard"
map at the Safety Fair last
fall in the Medford armory.
Visitors were invited to list
the intersection or street he
felt needed additional protec
tion. A total of 31 intersections
were listed by 91 people.
Fifth and Bartlett sts. was
listed as where control is
needed most because of the
blind corners. Another was
the Eighth st. and Oakdale
ave. intersection where peo
ple complained of confusion
due to parked cars.
Also Listed
The South Oakdale and
Stewart aves. intersection also
was listed because of a large
neoge wnicrt Blocks vision
although there are traffic
lights in operation at the in
tersection.
ine board nas been pre
sented to the police and will
be used in future considera
tion of traffic control, they
said.
Police Chief Charles P.
Champlin said, "he was dis
couraged after seeing the
1957 death and accident rate."
He said despite increased en
forcement, public education
and engineering, all types of
accidents increased. He said
that enforcement would be fo
cused on yielding the right-of-way
to pedestrian's because
of the three deaths of pedes
trians during 1957.
He said enlargement of the
city by annexations would
account for some of the in
crease as well as an increased
number of cars on the road
during the year.
First Of Refunds
From Tax Received
Salem (IP) Mrs. Maxine
Delapp, Salem, has received
the first of this year's record-
breaking number of state in
come tax refund checks from
the State Tax Commission.
Mrs. Delapp, a secretary, re
ceived refund check number
one from Gov. Robert D.
Holmes at a ceremony in
State Tax Commission offices
here Friday.
As soon as the check came
out of the IBM machine, it
was signed by Commission
Chairman S. W. Horn and de
livered, by the Governor.
More than 2o0,000 taxpay
ers are expected to file for re
funds before the April 15
deadline. Last year more than
five million dollars was paid
out in refunds and the figure
is expected to be higher this
year,
Ii Finest M odeni Facilities . 1
Conger-Morris continually strive to provide the finest of facilities. Here, to
make yours a beautiful Memorial, you will find the '
Orchid, Gold Green, Rose Room . Private Business Offices . I
Arrangement Rooms Pallbearer Room Family Room
Modern Chapel
"The -best cosfsno more, why accept less?" j
j Connr-zMoms ss
II . O WEST MAIN AT SIXTH f Jn?
j "Your TV Weatherman"
KBES-TV Monda, Thru Frid,, ASHLAND MORTUARY . fL
6:00 P.M. ' 4th " C Streets Ashland I "' j V -jjLfe
j Member National Selected Morticians by Invitation illi hLL&LtA
oimiraoLH)
iiiii
LOOKS OVER FILES FOR MAIN ST. Mrs. Opal Carter,
secretary to City Attorney Roy Bashaw, looks over the fil
for Main st. in the police officer's reports which are kept in
the department of public works. She and Mrs. Wilma Rauch
keep the files up to date In addition to their regular duties.
The file is located in luch a manner that easy access is
available to members of the planning department working
on traffic control problemi.
LOOKS OVER PUBLIC WORKS MAPS Vernon Thorpe,
city director of public works,
traffic accidents in his office. He uses the maps, with the
records of accident reports, to have a current file on all
dangerous intersections in Medford. The maps and file are
referred to when corrections or additions to the traffic con
trol system are made, he said.
nals for cars and pedestrians. The raised
section of the street with lack of warning
for the left turn lane for cars traveling
west on Sixth st. is listed as a major hazard,
according to a recent poll of drivers at the
Southern Oregon Safety fair last fall.
mmmmm
looks over maps of past year's
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