The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-29
STOPPING Ar-roMonr1r ACCIDENTS.

The New York American gives figures to show
ne aopan'nr number Of automobile accidents
,a New York city and to point out the DIFF
ference between the number Of deaths IN The
American city and in London. The figures ap-
ply only TO New York, but as evidence of no"
r.uch greater Is the regard for life in England
than in this country and how much more effec-
tive Is the protection thrown around citizens
by the law they are Of Interest 10 the whole
country.
Here are the facts. as given by the American;
in 1912 there were killed by automobiles IN
London 81 persons: in New York city @"4.
In ten months Of 1919. to October Zbth last
there were thus slain in New York 2S1 per
Fons-rnare than Six times as many as In Lon
don In three years.
The YEARLY automobile fatalities In London
,ucr.ssed from IA in 1910 10 81 in 1912~-less
than double. In Greater New \ ork they h-
creased from 112 to 234-more than douoie'
There really does not seem to De any neeo
for editorial comment on these figures They
soeak for themselves without any rhetorical
trimmings,
They may. however be accompanied by some
further facts which make the contrast between
the records in the two cities the more glarlns'
we have motor buses plying ON one prln-
c.ns1 avenue and two three connecting
streets. In London the motor bus ls every
where as thick street cars on broad"ay'
on Tudrate Hill and Ia the Strand 1t threads
"a press Of traffic hardy equaIed on oNi N"''''7'
thoroughfares, ,
yrith az TIE faxfc8b r. comparatively limited
because of the exorhitant charges hitherto
exacted for It's use, In London, where It's f"res
are cheap. It Is universally used and is piy'hs
on the most crowded thoroughfares
II we have the ungaiuly mail trucks recK-
yesslv driven, London has the amazing feature
of traction motors dragging lines Of three ana
four wagons through crowded streets
II ts net necessary to compare the PopuIa'ioli
of Iondon with ours, the relative conges-
ton OF traffic in fts streets. II these factors
were equal the comparison would sbll be aP
paIling
For tho figures show that London has not
ooa-ha,F our number Of fatal automobile tacci-
dents" nor even fourth. Its total IN l911
was less than one-eleventh as many as ours
what causes the difference? Sir William
Nott-Power the London police commissioner
from whose report these figures are drawn. de-
clares the comparative immunity from acciden'
enjoyed there is not due 10 fixed speed In'l
Indeed he rather deprecates the liking OF a unit
Rather, he relies the English law when pro-
,4aes that n person shall be held guilty OF ar
ofrense who drives motor car reckiessy. OF
negiigently regardless of the speed me conf'
is the Judge OF the circumstances In the case
London has no speed limit, but it Furnishes al
reckless driving.
New York has rigid speed limit, but i
does not punish reckless driving
The same basic cause OF the lower number
Of deaths by accident In London is probably
me cause Of the lower homicide rate in Eng
land. Americans have not the consciousness o
The sanctity Of life, possessed by the English
We make less OF death by violence and accident
than our English cousins and consequently le
both go unpublished more frequently.
This IN general. AS to specific cause there
ia much to be said for that suggested by The
American London has speed laws bu
furnishes reckless driving New York has speed
laws hut seldom Furnishes reckless driving. j
has occurred TO us more than once that laws
regulating speed are less effective az means o.
protection 10 pedestrians than laws governing
reckleesnesa. In Parts as In London there is M
speed law There is but law and that l.
that an automobile driver is to be held respon
eibIe for death. accident or loss to pedestrians
or property. The driver may have been goinf
slowly or ne may have been going rapidly. i
does not matter. He killed the pedestrian ana
must suffer the penalty. the burden Of proc,
being upon him to prove that 1t not his
fault. This rule may be TOO rigid and may
sometimes work injustice. but 1t keeps the rate
Of automobile accidents down. and laws drawn
on the same principle. with more latitude al
lowed for the disposal Of Individual cases, might
help matters greatly In this country.
TO AID YOUNG GIRLS.