New-York tribune., 1920-12-06
3.8O8 Persons
Killed by Autos
In Z. s. i'm Year
Rate Is AL Out of 100000
for 1919, Against so in
1915; New York City in
Lead With $50 Fatalities
Decrease in Three Cities
improvements in Traffic
Regulations Suggested by
Federal Census Bureau

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (By The AS
sociated Press "A total Of 3,S0S per-
sons were killed in automobile acci-
dents, or died as a result Of injuries
theresrom, during the last year, the
Census Bureau announced to-day in
statement offering suggestions for traf-
fc Improvement. An automobile acct
dent death rate of l4.l out of every
100000 of population was reported for
1919, an increase over every year since
1915, when the rate was 8. and an
increase Of 245 in the total number Of
deaths over 1913.
each year it becomes more and more
dangerous for person to walk the
streets" the Census Bureaus statement
said. "The reason usually given. and
probably the correct one, is that the
number OF automobiles in use is con-
stantly increasing. How then shall this
ever-increasing danger be lcssened
The obvious remedy is to improve con-
stanty the traffic regulations to keep
pace with the cvcr-increasing number
of automobiles"
This call for better and better traf-
ic regulations is not fancful one.
Every one IS familiar with the neces-
sity for slow and orderly progress
when crowd energies from a circus
tent and, similarly, automobile traffic
must be slowed down and controlled
until it becomes safe. The 1919 rates
for Kansas City, Mo-, San Antonio and
Cleveland, all much lower than for
1913, furnish ray Of hope that We
are finally waking up"
Traffic Suggestions
Suggestions made by the bureau for
traffic Improvement follow:
Erection at street crossings OF
curhed safety islands. which at the
most dangerous spot should be very
close together.
Const truction Of additional crossings
in the middle Of blocks, where automo-
bilcs can approach from only two di-
rcctions.
Demonstration Of great skill in driv-
ing each machine before granting a
drivers license for that machine.
NcuuCllOu Cl INc Sptcu llIull, eSpS-
cially at crossings.
Fine, revocation Of license and i'm
prisonment each to have its place as an
actual penalty.
Youngstown, Ohio, heads the list cf
sixty-six cities in the automobile
death rate, with 2s.5 per 100 600 but
showed a decrease from the previous
year, when the rate was 31.9 Ri,h-
mond, Va, had the lowest rate with
SO, but showed a slight increase over
1913, when it was 5.4
New York had the largest total mum
ber Of deaths, with $50, an increase OF
eighty nine over the previous year and
more than double the number in 1915.
New York's automobile death rate was
lao per 100000 persons
Chicago's total deaths numbered 329,
an increase Of thirty-sevcn, With
death rate Of 1873
Statistics for Larger Cities
Statistics for other cities Of $50 900
or more population follow:
Philadelphia, total 1871, decreased 35,
rate 10.o6 Detroit l39, increase Ia,
rate 144; Cleveland 1876, decrease 52,
rate 100; st. Louis l05, increase 12.
rate 1871; Boston 1875, increase II, rate
lG.lS; Baltimore l06, increase a, rate
1915; Pittsburgh 81. decreased II, rate
l61; Les Angeles 119, increase %, rate
oil; San Francisco So increase H.,
rate 16.9; Buffalo 69. decrease 90, rarc
1876; Nj. "auhec go, increase ~, rate
1872; Washington SO, increase 4, rate
134; Newark 80, increase 20, rate
200: Cincinnati CT. increase 8. rate
1917; New Orleans 80, increase s, rate
"a; Minneapolis SO. decrease 5, rate
101; Kansas City 40. decrease 22, rate
1871; Seattle 90 increase 10, rate l6.O.
Indianapolis 26, decrease ], rate S.A;
Jersey City 40, increase 10, rate 1875;
Rochester 32, increase 7, rate 1913;
Portland (Orc.) 81, no change, rate
121; Denver Al, decrease 2. rate 16l.