The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-09-22
AUTO ACCIDENTS
ON THE INCREASE
SURVEY IS MADE OF MID
DIE WEST CITIES
FIRST HALF YEAR 1922
Report Has Caused Officials To
Pass More Drastic Rules
For Traffic
Associated Press pispateh.1

Chicago, September 21.-Despite
the passage of numerous ordinances
and the adoption of traffic regula-
lions in the larger cities of the
country in an effort to curb accidents
from motor cars, reports from more
than a dozen of the metropolitan
cities of the middle west show an
increase in the number Of accidents
for the first six months of 1922. COM
pared with the same period OF 1921.
This increase has caused city Off
Gals 10 prescribe drastic rules in
governing motor traffic in an en-
deavor 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 by municipal
judges. Adoption Of rules in turning
at street intersections, elimination
of glaring headlights and education
al campaigns are other methods US
ed in many cities IN the campaign
against accidents.
In Chicago in 1921, deaths attrib-
uted to motor accidents totaled $40
as compared with AIS in 1920. Non
fatal accidents totaled 1857 in 1921
and Z, 0S5 in 1920. During the first
four months of 1922, non fatal ac-
cidents totaled 1888.
Record for Cleveland
Forty three persons were killed
and 1855 injured in automobile ac-
cidents in Cleveland from February
i to August l, 1922 To Offset this,
workhouse sentences have been i'm
pose upon speeders and reckless
drivers, no one under Is years OF
age may drive a car and second Of
tense for failure to have lights bur
ing results in arrest, 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 con-
gested districts during business
hours, automobiles must come to
complete stop at all boulevards,
must not pass a street car diScharg-
ing passengers and must not exceed
eight miles an hour in the congested
districts and twenty miles in the
presidential districts.
Detroit's attempts to increase safe
ty are the adoption of the tower
systtm of regulating traffic and the
establishment of safety zones for
street car passengers. Another or.
dinance requires all persons to be
able to drive an automobile under all
conditions before being granted a
state drivers license. Seventy per-
sons were killed there during the
first six months of 1922 and 1921
were injured.
Strict enforcement of speed laws
and frequent Jail sentences for
sFeeders and reckless drivers has
been the method adopted in Indian
apolis for increasing safety. In down
town sections traffic officers direct
pedestrians while others direct
street traffic.
In Oklahoma City
In Oklahoma City, most of the
main travelled streets havl been des-
ignated bouleyards and before
crossing these motorists are requir-
ed to come to a complete stop
Heavy white stop" signs painted on
the pavement at these Intersections
remind the driver.
An "unwrittten law" is in effect in
Louisville where police court judges
asses fine of 50 for each mile an
hour above the speed limit. Peniten
tiary sentence under charge OF man
slaughter is provided for drivers
ound responsible for deaths result.
ing fom accidents. Cars must be
under full control at all street inter
sections
Milwaukee has, barred the left
hand turn and instituted a law walk =
ing ordinance requiring pedestrians
to cross streets at intersections. Au-
tomobiles on prescribed thorough
fares are given right Of way over
all traffic crossing such streets.
Thirteen deaths because of auto
mobile accidents were reported dur
ing the first six months of 1922 in
Dallas, Texas. In down town Sec
tons the right hand turn only Is
permitted, cars are required to STOP
at least five feet in the rear of street
cars discharging passengers and sa
fety zones have been established al
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