Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-27
Richmond Automobile Now,
FIGURES SHOW AUTO USE
TO Be GROWING SAFER
Stcndy Decline In Ratio Of Facili-
ties to Number OF Cars in
Operation.
CUT ACCIDENTS 30 PER CENT
Varying Rules OF Road In Different
States, Which Lead To Confusion
OF Drivers, Cause of Many Acct
dentS-Nccd Standard System.

stantiy safer omcial igures SHOW
steady decline In the ratio OF fatal-
ties to the number or cars In opera
ton. Automobile deaths per car were
.o025 in 1914, and have been reduced
10 .09i3 in 1919. Figures for the
city show that the former city regis
tered on" less fatality due to auto
mobiles than In 1919. and New Yorh's
1910 marx. -" 80 wa" -"
The reduction Of 30 per cent in
tive years In the ratio of fatalities
public Is quickly adapting itself TO
the problems OF congestion. and con-
tinucd progress in motor safety is
confidently looked for.
Automobile manufacturers feel.
however. that the actual numerical
increase In car fatalities nationally
presents situation which calls for
further strenuous effort III the mini
MIXING or hazard.
More Fairgrounds. more safety edu-
cation In The schools. uniform traffic
rules. ana regulations against over
witch the National ku,on,obiie Cham
increased vtsor during the coming
year. The y. 4. e. g. in urging these
causes plans 70 assist ORGANIZATIONS
already activ" in these lines. rather
campaigns.
Fairgrounds az" leading feature
per cent OF ALI automobile fataiitics
occur 10 children under IL years az
aH" Tn" motor vehicle makers be-
llcrc that tn. best and only just
way 10 Keep children of the street
Is TO provide some more attractive
place for them I" play. The valu-
aoi. nract1.ai rcs,ns Of nlaygrounds
Etratcd In D"troiit lowered fatality
rate. as the fourth .>ty Is a leader in
playground and 6a.sty activity.
hf r 20 h..
n. 9. Z. to the safety education work
OF the Highway and Highway Trans
port Education Committee. and 10
other national bodies cndcavorinE to
reduce hazard
Many accidents are caused by the
VARYING rules II the road in different
states which leads 10 the confusion
.! 'riNcrs IN interstate traffic. The
Motor vehicle Conference committee.
conpossd Of gar makers, dealers.
= proposed uniform vehicle law be-
fore legislatures this winter. This
,meaSnr. con,a!n@ provisions which.
standard code FOR driving and thereby
enhance the safety OF m" Interstate
drivers.
Tai. law also would require that
every vehicle must carry certain Oh
ltEatGrN equipment. n!l of which Is
'"ndnc!r" =" IN. safety -: til" ,rav-
CHING public. THE equipment con-
Ststs 81 brakes ~ good wora.ts, or
Ger. horns or other signalling devices.
Tex Atat!pnN concerning. -ampst and
otu.r SAFETY Sp"cincatiour
Attempts VIII hc mad. 1" educate
tn. truck owner. On tn" dangers ot
nNer!ohdlnc Legal restrictions on
this ~. h"!pful. hi, evasion rs 50
easy that tn nnal appeal must d. To
me user. Overlooking Injuries the
truck and shortcns its life, over
loading u highly, dangerous 10 the
driver and to pedestrians a. the
brakes OF "a vehicle cannot function at
W. per cent when the truck t. carry
Se more than it's rated burden.
The figures OF fatalities show tina,
come gain Is being made in The safe
" .! motor trans2or; when the in
reasins number Of units 10 taken
INTO consideration. Moreover IL is
IelieNcd that through the measures
ment in safety can be achieved