"SAFETY FIRST!"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 200, 19 May 1920, Page 7

"SAFETY FIRST!"

DETROIT-MOTOR CENTRE.In the course of his tour .last year the City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) visited Detroit, and in his report writes:— "Great interest appeared to be taken at I Detroit in a "safety first" campaign. / This citv, which in 1912 had a population of about 500,000, is now reputed; to rontain close upon a million people, it being generally 6tated that the population had doubled within the past eight or nine years. This is all'due to the establishment of a (irreat number of motor factories, nearly all of the bestkuown makes of American cars being ; manufactured 111 this scity. Detroit is unquestionably the centre of this particular industry in the United 'States of America. An enormous use is consequently made of motor vehicles, and the accidents have been so numerous during the past few. years that a very keen interest is being taken in the work of those who are carrying on the "safety first" campaign. Outside the City Hall was displayed a large sign giving' the liumber of accidents that- had- occurred . in the previous year and the monthly re- . turn for the current year. In 1915 there . .were - 5000 street accidents and 192 deaths, whilst up to the end of April, ,i "1919. 352 street, accidents had occurred with 24 deaths. It was generally recog- ; niscd That such accidents were the result of carelessness.-. Great care wasbeing exercised by the polico at all street intersections. Crossing places were indicated by white lines painted on the asphalt surfaces, and safety zones were created in the principal' streets. In addition there were numerous streets in which vehicular traffic was allowed'in one direction onM and . this law was being very strictly administered. This practice is, however, fairly general in all the cities of the States."