So Far, a Safe Holiday for County’s Motorists

Ventura County may be headed for its second straight year with no Christmastime traffic deaths, authorities said Saturday.

Since the extended Christmas holiday began Wednesday evening, there have been no traffic accidents involving serious injuries.

Skies have been clear and the weather good day and night, making conditions excellent for holiday travel.

Between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Saturday, California Highway Patrol officers in Ventura County made 24 drunk-driving arrests.

During a 78-hour holiday period in 1995, Highway Patrol officers made 34 arrests for driving under the influence and responded to 36 traffic accidents, including one that proved fatal.

The number of arrests and accidents dropped in 1996, which officers attributed to good weather.

This holiday period, Highway Patrol officers have responded to several single-vehicle rollovers and multi-vehicle crashes, but as of Saturday night none of those accidents had resulted in serious injuries, authorities said.

The people who deal with the injured have taken notice of the drop in traffic accidents.

“It’s been quiet,” said Carol Gibson, a dispatcher for Gold Coast Ambulance Service in Oxnard.

Traffic on the southbound Ventura Freeway will likely be heavy this afternoon as families make their way home, and officials said they are ready for whatever trouble drivers might encounter.

One thing that everyone who gets behind the wheel can look forward to is another day of clear skies and warm temperatures.

The National Weather Service has predicted highs in the 70s across the county today, with lows in the 40s overnight.

Meteorologist Gary Ryan said to expect more of the same this week, with gray skies not to be seen until New Year’s Day and the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

“But we will try to hold that off until the 2nd,” Ryan said. “We don’t want it to rain on the parade.”