The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-13
NO REAL INCREASE
IN AUTO ACCIDENTS
Percentage Of Fatalities Is No
Greater, States Motor Cham
her of Commerce.
HORSES MORE DANGEROUS
Fewer Vehicles Drawn by
Them. but Mishaps Remain
About the Same.

n statement in opposition 20 the WORK
Of the statistics Issuing societies was
made yesterday by the Automobile Cham
Der OF Commerce. the Association OF proini-
hcnt motor car makers OF the country
That automobiles are little II any more
dangerous than horses or wagons" is con-
tended.
Reports on street and highway acct
dents and fatalities that are issued
monthly aud published freely by the news
papers are very misleading in tins respect
whether intentionally Or not They take
no account of several factors that are
of utmost Importance in arriving At sc-
uurate estimates OF the comparative danger
Of different kinds OF vchicular traffic 90
says the statement.
I'm the first place. while giving bare
figures showing the comparative numbers
Of persons killed and injured by motor
vehicles. trolley ears and horse drawn
vehicles year by year th.s" reports do
not show the rclativ. increases or de-
creascs In the numbers OF such vehicles
In use. ON their face the figures show
THAT the Increase III accidents Is due al
most entirely To- motor vehicles. but the
simplest analysis shows tina; this IL due
to the fact that the number OF such
vehicles is increasing very rapidly, while
the numbers OF horse drawn vehicles and
trolley cars have remained almost sta
tonary FOR several years past.
Accepting AZ their face value the re-
ports OF accidents AZ compiled analysis
proves that the ratio OF fatalities to the
number OF motor vehicles ia not Increasing
Thus a. report recently sent out and pub
iished in many New York aud other news
papers gives the total fatalities IN New
York state due to automobiles for the
last three years as follows: 1911. "a
1912. 34s: 1919 AL.
But records OF the Secretary OF state
show that registrations OF motor vehicles
in the State during these years were re-
spectively ~ $50, lO5.Ii9 and l32.Ji9.
Dividing the number of fatalities into the
number OF cars IN use IL IL found that in
1911 there we're 3.3j deaths. or slightly
more than . Ia FOR every 1000 motor
vehicles registered, not including the cars
Of non-residents driven into the stat"
from other States OF which there are
many thousands during the year. In 1872
tho ratio was only per 1000 and in
1913 il was "a or practically the same az
in 1911.
This proves positively that while there
are more accidents the Increase in num-
Der ~ due entirely to tho greater number
Of motor vehicles used and IL in no wise
the result OF greater reckIessness or IN
Il ff,r.nc. to the laws on the part of the
owners and drivers oY uutomohlles ana
motor trucks.
81 Unfortunately no Official figures are
availahl. To show the comparative num-
hers 81 trolley ears aud horse drawn
vehicles in use IN the state during the
several years named. but i; Is almost Ger
tain :hat there have been no material in
Creas.s. Official figures furnished by tn"
city collector OF taxes In Chicago show
tha; the number Of horse drawn vehicles
licensed under the local wheel tax there
has decreased more than 1000 in the last
three years--from isll+ in May, 1910. to
ai.VS7 In May. 1919 There should Ice
therefore AN actual decrease in the num-
Der of accidents caused by such vehicles
IN Chicago.
There no doubt has been relatively ~
great Il decrease IN the number OF horse
drawn vehicles IN Greater New York in
III. same period. Several years ago IL
Mas estimated that there We're about
5000 horse drawn vehicles In the city
so there probably are to-day about 5000
fewer therefore. the number OF accidents
and deaths due 10 this class OF traffic
should be \ per cent less than in 1911.
But IN. accident figures given out for
New York city show that Their. w-r" 100
fatalities ia 1913. 49, compared with l72
in '"ll and IL IN 1919 Consequently
1t IL evident that the ratio Of fatalities
TO number ~ hors. vehicles hes in-
creased"