The Region - News from Dec. 30, 1986

Only two persons died in traffic accidents in the Los Angeles area during the long Christmas holiday weekend this year, compared to 20 in the same period two years ago, the California Highway Patrol said. Last year was not used as a comparison because it was a shorter period than the 4 days of this year’s holiday. The 1984 holiday was the same length as this year, CHP spokesman Ernie Garcia said. This year’s toll for all of California, from 6 p.m. Wednesday to midnight Sunday, was 47 dead, while in 1984 the 4-day count was 48, Garcia said. There were 466 arrests by CHP officers in the Los Angeles jurisdiction this year for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs compared to 603 during the 1984 holiday. The total statewide was 1,981 this year. In 1984, it was 2,764. Garcia said there appeared to be fewer motorists on the road this year.