TOLL OF THE MOTOR

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1929, Page 6

TOLL OF THE MOTOR

ACCIDENTS IN U.S.A. BIG FATALITY LIST. There were' 800,000 automobile accidents in the United States lust year; 27,000' persons were killed, and the loss involved was 850,030;000 dollars, according to figures of the National Safety Council. Fatalities were 5 per cent greater than in T 927. Congestion caused by traffic in the motor-cliolted streets of towns and cities, most of which were planned for buildings not over six storeys high and for horses and buggies, fs estimated to cost New York City 540,000,000 dollars a year, St! Louis 16,000,000 dollars, and Detroit more than 30,000;000 dollars, says “Popular Mechanics Magazine.” What can he done about it? 111 the first place, a nation-wide movement is qn to establish a uniform system of traffic signs, signals, and markings. One reason for such astep is that, last year alone, 2000 persons were killed’ because they became confused by signs with which they were unfamiliar. The increase in inter-State travel by auto demands a uniform Set of guides, the exports declare.

In the second place, there is, according to Mr J. iS. Baker, of the National Safety Council, the human element. “It is not the breakdown of the- automobile' that is causing accidents,” lie says, “it is the breakdown'of the driver.” The breakdown has also been traced to the pedestrian, for in thousands of cases lie and not the motorist is to blame for the mishap. Consequently, some cities are passing strict regulations against' “jay walking,” pedestrians are being routed in definite trafficlanes while on the side-walks, in order that there may be less confusion there and less danger in crossing the streets, and a nation-wide drive is being conducted among school children to teach them care' and thoughtfulness in order that accidents may be avoided.

Already results of these movements are on record. Washington, D.C., with a popuation of nearly 600,000 went through last December without" a single motor fatality. Detroit suffered 74 fewer automobile deaths in 1928 than in 1927, although the population increased by 45,000 and the number of automobiles by 90,000. The year was marked by a 20 per cent, decrease in automobile fatalities. The effects of the Detroit educational campaign were particularly noticeable among'tlie school children. In the first nine months of last year fatalities among children between the ages of five and fourteen were nearly 34 per cent, less than in the same period in 1927. Old persons showed a similar good record. Fatal accidents by automobiles to those over 55 years old were reduced more than 27 per cent'. The smallest improvement was noticed in the group from 16 to 54 years of age, the span of great activity and, often, of greatest carelessness. The reduction was less than 8 per cent, in this last division. More than half of the accidents in the entire city involved persons between the ages of 25 and 54, although that group comprised considerably less than half of tile population.