Ridge Route Tickets

From Los Angeles to Bakersfield, Calif, stretches the Ridge Route, a treacherous ribbon of curves and grades famed both for its scenery and its danger. After 51 motorists had been killed on Ridge Route in 15 months, Chief E. Raymond Cato of the California Highway Patrol decided on an ingenious method to cancel the carnage, put it into effect last week on a 62 1/2-mile section of the Ridge Route from Castaic Junction to Arvin Road.

As automobiles (about 180 per hour on weekdays) reach this section, they are halted by police for a rigorous inspection of tires, brakes, lights, windshield wipers, mirrors, signal devices, loads. The driver is inspected for sobriety. Those who are let through are given a card stamped with the time of discharge and stating that the speed limit is 45 m. p. h. At the other end of the section another officer collects the ticket, notes by the elapsed time whether the driver has been speeding. If so, he is given a warning, told the police may try to revoke his license. (By law police cannot arrest the driver for an offense so detected.)

First week's results: average driving speed reduced 10 m. p. h., only one minor accident.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.