Utah has just recorded its third worst traffic death toll in history after three years of reduced fatality lists under the 55 mph speed limit. ‘ A total of 358 persons died in Utah traffic accidents in 1977. Only 1972, with 383 deaths, and 1973, with 362, were worse. The sharp rise in 1977 was surprising after the traffic toll had dropped dramatically to 229 in 1974 (first year under the lower speed limit), rose in 275 in 1975, and dropped again in 254 in 1976. What caused the climb in 1977? Highway officers said Utah drivers slowly edged their average speed upwards and there was widespread disregard for the 55 mph limit. Was this an important contributing factor’? Officers also noted there were several multiple fatality accidents and these might have had a bearing. The Utah Department of Transportation voted last month to make the 55 mph limit permanent. The legislature will be asked to enact a law to that effect. Utah’s 1977 experience notwithstanding, the National Safety Council says that nationally about 36,000 lives have been saved since the 55 mph speed limit was implemented, and current trends indicate about 8,500 highway deaths have been avoided this year through the lowered highway speed, Nationally, before the 55 mph limit was in effect, 55,511 persons were killed in traffic accidents in 1973. The fatality figure dropped to 46,402 in 1974, to 45,853 in 1975, and rose to 46,700 in 1976. Fiiures for last year haven’t een finalized yet, but estimates pegged the toll at about 47,000. The Safety Council report is impressive. It is hoped that the Utah fatality list will turn sharply downward in 1978. Certainly the upsruge in 1977 should serve as a warning to motorists and pedestrians to exercise care and caution. Ambassador Updated… A few months ago U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young caused diplomatic eyebrows to raise by calling Cuban troops in Africa “a force for stability.” The other day, however, he urged Cuba and its patron, Russia, to stop fomenting trouble in Africa so that “African solutions to African problems” can be found. Speaking of Angola, where a Cuban expeditionary force of 23,000 soldiers and advisers are propping up a Marxist regime facingha popular revolt, Young told e General Assembly; “The presence in Africa of nearly a quarter of Cuba’s armed forces and the interjection of Cuban military advisers in troubled areas throughout the continent can only lead to more deaths and suffering – both Cuban and African.” Young’s latest statement makes more sense than his previous naive acceptance of Communist intervention in African affairs. It sounds as if he is leaming his job. A Yen for Yen Not so inscrutable, those Japanese women. A recent survey by the Takai Bank of Tokyo revealed that the Japanese housewife is a dedicated saver. More than 40 percent make regular deposits in their own aecounts. V Their spouses might be expected to approve highly of such thrift, except that they know nothing about it. The wives are secretly squirreling away funds skimmed from pay envelopes.