The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-28
AUTOMOBILES The
SAFEST VEHICLES

new OK, MdIGI1 10 4NOSPA S"A
publicity has been given of late to re-
ports of highway accidents and fatali-
ties that are very misleading and
which place all of the blame for the
increase in these upon the automobile.
These reports have served to increase
the prejudice against AUTOMOBILES and
their owners and drivers to such an
extent that no less than 140 bills re-
Iating to the use of these vehicles and
to highways were introduced in the
nine states whose legislatures are now
in session during the two months fol-
lowing the converting of the legisla-
lures in January. Forty-five such bills
were introduced in Massachusetts,
twenty in New Jersey. seventeen in
New York state, sixteen in Virginia,
fifteen in Maryland and thirteen In
Kentucky.
The largest number Of bills provide
for increased registration fees, while
the next largest number relate to the
regulation Of speed and operation. A
score or more relate specifically to
equipment of vehicles, seven or more
being universal light bills. which will
have the full approval of the motor
ists.
Motorphobia Result of Misinformation.
A great deal of the agitation against
automobiles and the insistent demand
for restrictive and drastic legislation
are undoubtedly based upon lack of a
knowledge Of the facts and an errone-
Gus belief, which has been carefully
fostered by interested persons and or
carnations, that the motor vehicle Is
more dangerous than horse drawn We
hicles and trolley cars. AS a matter OF
fact. the records prove beyond a doubt
that motor vehicles are the least dan
gerous form of highway traffic. Ener-
getic efforts should be made by all
owners and OF orators of such vehicles
to present the facts in their light
to legislators, state and local author-
tiles, highway and motor vehicle COM
missioners and to he general public,
by direct personal interviews, by cor
respondence and through the medium
of the press. Many daily newspapers
seem inclined to present the automo-
bile and the motorist in as unfavor-
able a light as possible.
Auto Fatalities Ratio Not Increased.
A letter from the coroner of Cook
county, Illinois, giving official records
of the city Of Chicago and adjoining
suburban villages, shows ~conclusively
that the motor vehicle has caused only
one-half as many accidents there dur
ing the last four years as horses and
wagons Der mile travelled by each.
Put in more condensed form. the data
contained in the letter is as follows:
Number Of vehicles and their aver
age mileage:
Horse Vehicles
umb ..:......,.. ....'... 65,lIS
Average mileage ..........-..1 IL miles
Total daily mileage .......... 781,416
Power Vehicles -
Number ........ ............ 37,406
Average mileage ........... AZ miles
Total daily mileage ,571,0 52
Average Of accidents in -four years:
Horse Vehicles
Total accidents, 1910 to 1914. GOAT
Accidents per day ........... AIS
Average accidents per $780,
GOO miles ......,.......% 26.55
Power Vehicles
Total accidents, 1910 to 1914. 5,7S4
Accidents per day .........., $3.50
Average accidents per $780,
Ratio of Automobile Fatalities Not In.
ereasina.
Following the close of 1918, a report
! on traffic accidents vas published
| widely by the leading daily newspa
I pers and commented upon in the edi-
torial columns very adversely to the
| automobile and the motorist. This re-
;ort contained the following tables
and statements:
I'm New York city, automobile, troll
4 Icy ana WdSJu ldLdl1LlSS IOE LL6 pas
| four a have been as follows.
1910 1911 1912 191;
Automobile lila 142 221 301
Trolley go. .....14S log 134 lOe
| Wagon ........2 172 lit liz
SIN New York state outside Of New
| York City for the past three years the
= 1911 1912 1918
Automobiles ..........132 1877 14s
Trolleys ............ 81 70 as
Wagons ............ 81 % 81
I'm the. state of New Jersey Of the
| years 1912 and 1913 the record Of
fatalities was as follows:'
1912 1918
Automobiles 80. .-.......... 81 l24
Trolleys 81 1e
wagons 10 ~
while in 1910, wagon killings out
numbered those due to automobiles, In
| 1913 automobile fatalities were more
than those due to trolleys and wagons
combined 'In about IL per cent OF
the accidents Gin New York City, the
| owner himself was driving" "The
percentage Of accidents Gin New York
| state outside of New York City, In
which the owner was driving was
about 20 per cent" ''The total number
killed or injured by automobiles in
the state Of New York Of which the
society has record during the veal 1915