The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-09-23
INCREASE IN AUTO
MOBILE ACCIDENTS

Chicago, Sept. 23.-Despite the
passage of numerous ordinances and
the adoption of traffic regulations in
the larger cities Of the country in an
effort to curb accidents from motor
cars, reports from more than a dozen
o. the metropolitan cities of the mid
die west show an increase in the
number of accidents for the first six
months of 1922, compared with the
same period of 1921.
This increase has caused city Off
cials to prescribe drastic rules in
governing motor traffic in an endeavor
to lessen danger in modern travelling.
Several of the cities are shown to be
waging war on the speeder, in many
cases imprisonment being added to
fines municipal judges. Adoption of
rules in turning at street intersec-
tions, elimination Of glaring head
lights and educational campaigns are
other methods used in many cities in
the campaign against accidents.
In Chicago in 1921, deaths attribut-
ed to motor accidents totaled 575 as
compared with Ats in 1920 Non-fatal
accidents totaled 1867 in 1921 and
1888 in 1920. During the first four
months of 1922, non-fatal accidents
totaled 2533.
FOrty-three persons were killed and
1855 injured in automobile accidents
in Cleveland from Febraury l, to Au-
gust l, 1922. To Offset this, work
house sentences have been imposed
upon speeders and reckless drivers, no
one under Is years Of age may drive
a car and second offense for failure
to have lights burning results in ar
rest. no matter what the circumstance.
To curb accidents in ST. Louis,
where sixty-two were killed during
the first six months of this year and
1927 were injured, an educational
campaign has been started, one-way
traffic has been established in congest-
ed districts during business hours, au-
tomobiles must come to complete stop
at all boulevards, must not pass
street car discharging passengers and
must not exceed eight miles an hour
III the congested districts and twenty
miles in the residential districts.
Detroit's attempts to increase safe
ty are the adoption of the tower sys-
tenn of regulating traffic and the es-
Establishment of safety zones for street
car passengers. Another ordinance
requires all persons to be able to
drive an automobile under all condi-
tions before being granted a state
drivers license. Seventy persons were
killed there during the first six
months of 1922 and 1921 were injured.
Strict enforcement of speed laws
and frequent Jail sentences for speed
ers and reckless drivers has been the
method adopted in Indianapolis for
increasing safety. In downtown dis
tricts traffic officers direct pedestrians
while others direct street traffic.
In Oklahoma City, most of the main
Travelled streets have been designated
boulevards and before crossing these
motorists are required to come to E
complete stop. Heavy white "Stop'
signs painted on the pavement a
these intersections remind the driver
An "unwritten law" is in effect il
Louisville where police court judge
assess a fine of 50 for each mile al
hour above the speed limit. Peniten
! tiary sentence under charge of man
. slaughter is provided for driver
found responsible for deaths result
irg from accidents. Cars must be un
: der full control at all street intersec
t tions.
t Milwaukee has barred the left
= hand turn and instituted jay-walk
$ ing ordinance requiring pedestrian
- to cross streets at intersections. Au
tomobiles on prescribed thorough
fares are given right of way over a
|. traffic crossing such streets.
c Thirteen deaths because of automt
o bile accidents were reported durin
0 the first six months of 1922 in Dalla
Texas. In down town sections th
right-hand turn only is permitte'
Y cars are required to stop at least fi7
e feet in the rear of street cars di
S charging passengers and safety zon'
have been established at warrior
t-oir%S in downtown streets