The Washington herald., 1921-02-20

Automobile use is growing con-
stantly safer. Oficial figures show
a steady decline in the ratio Of
fatalities to the number Of cars in
operation. Automobile deaths per
car were .o025 in 1914, and have
oeen reduced to .0ol3 in 1919. Fig
ures for the year 1890 in Detroit and
New York City show that the former
city registered one less fatality due
10 automobiles than in 1919, and
New fork's toll was twenty-one less
Ihan the 1919 mark.
The reduction of so per cent in
hNe years in the ratio of fatalities
70 the number of cars shows that
the public is quickly adapting itself
10 the problems Of congestion, and
continued progress in motor safety
Is confidently looked for.
Automobile manufacturers feel,
however, that the actual numerical
increase in car fatalities nationally
presents a situation which calls for
Iurther strenuous effort in the
minimizing of hazard.
Need More safety Education.
More Fairgrounds, more safety
education in the schools, uniform
tranc rules. and regulations against
ures which the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce will advo-
cate with increased yigor during
the coming year. The n. A. c c. in
urging these causes plans to assist
organizations already active in
these lines, rather than to stimulate
any Independent campaigns.
Fairgrounds are a leading fea-
tnre in this safety program because
IS per cent of all automobile fatal
f-les occur to children under 15
years of age. The motor vehicle
<inakers believe that the best and
only just way to keep children OF
the street is to provide some more
attractive place for them to play.
The valuable practical results Of
Fairgrounds coupled with education
are demonstrated in Detroit's low
cred fatality rate, as the fourth city
Is leader in playground and safety
activity.
Assistance will be given by the
N \. C c. to the safety education
work Of the highway and highway
transport education committee, and
to other national bodies endeavoring
to reduce hazard.
Uniform Laws Needed.
Many accidents are caused by the
varying rules of the road in differ
ent States which leads to the con-
fusion OF drivers in interstate traf-
nc. The motor vehicle conference
committee, composed of car makers.
dealers. owners and allied bodies. is
urging a proposed uniform vehicle
law before legislatures this winter.
This measure contains provisions
which. il adopted by the States. will
set standard code for driving ana
thereby enhance the safety OF tn,
interstate drivers.
This law also would require that
every vehicle must carry CERTAIN.
obligatory equipment, all OF which
IS conducive to the safety Of the
travelling public. This equipment
consists Of brakes in good working
order. horns or other signaling de-
vices. regulations concerning lamps,
and other safety specifications.
Attempts will be made to educate
the truck owner on the dangers oil
overlooking. Legal restrictions on
this are helpful. but evasion is so
easy that the final appeal must be
to the user Overlooking Injuries
tho truck and shortens its life.
Overlooking is highly dangerous TO
the driver and to pedestrians as the
brakes Of a vehicle cannot function
at 100 per cent when the truck Is
carrying more than its rated bur
den.
Figures show Decline.
The figures of fatalities show that
somr gain is being made in the SAFE
~ OF motor transport when the IN
creastng number OF units is taken
into consideration. Moreover, il is
believed that through the measures