The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-12-17
PEDESTRIANS To
Blame IN MANY
ACCIDENT CASES
Traffic Experts Check Up on
Causes and Methods to
Prevent Higher Toll
in Nation.
BY Phillip J. Sinnott


CHICAGO.-America's huge traffic
toll II preventable.
Traffic experts throughout the coun-
Try agree on this And yet this year b3.-
600 persons will be killed or injured
In auto accidents and more than a bill
lion dollars in property will be destroyed
Furthermore, the automobile fatality
ratio Is mounting steadily in proportion
~ growth In the number OF automobiles
operated. As the nation is only 90 per
cent supplied with the automobiles that
VIII eventually be la operation, the ap-
pslling death and accident rate Of today
threatens 10 he doubled unless strict
regulations, education of drivers and
public, newer traffic control devices and
similar measures now in effect bring
relief
In 1906, there We're fewer than 400
deaths from automobile accidents. Last
year 1l.024 were killed, an increase OF
1850 per cent. Two-thirds OF oll traffic
accidents occur in cities OF 10000 or
more.
American traffic regulations have not
kept up with the phenomenal increase
In the number Of autos. The streets
were laid out in the days of horse.drawn
-behicles. Persons driving around then
were familiar with their surroundings,
knew every rut in the road and what to
avoid.
Now, however. Americas traffic has
increased enormously. 1t is travelling at
several times the former rate OF speed.
And the limitations placed on distance
traversed has been wiped out. until in
tercity and interstate trips are the rule
Confusing Regulations
The result Is confusion, due to con.
fhcting traffic regulations in different
states and cities. which lead 10 acci.
dents. Cnfamiliarity with danger points
IN strange towns IL another cause. Will.
the careless motorist. roaring through
small communities OH his way to larger
cities. has become one of the big kill.
ers. r
To successfully combat the growing
menace Of automobile accidents. the
cause must be studied ard removed
There are not many una voidahe acci.
dents. A check on automobile accidents
shows practically all Of them due to
some OF the following causes.
Careless drivers.
lntOxication.
Incompetent drivers.
Disregard or ignorance OF traffic laws.
Spec ding.
Ihying In streets.
Careless pedestrians.
l'stc,fve brakes.
Attempt 10 pas t.,, vehicles going
In the ssme direction which are nearly
kLrs ast.
= Intoxicated dr'Ncrs are one OF the
worst nenaces . lie and limb that au-
thori,les have TO deal with. they say.
Such drivers are not only imbued with
the speed mania but they take the most
hazardous chances, while frequently
their condition causes ther'. TO drive
through safety zones. or sidewalks and
even into buildings
PedestI ian's Fault
The pedestrian Is In many cases TO
blame. through carelessly stepping
from the curbstone into moving traf.
AC' fuHtiHE uVTbSS tue street btniuu a
street ear and otherwise falling TO use
proper caution.
Children especially present serious
problem. one.third OF those killed BY
automobiles are children. and In IA ma.
jcrity OF cases. they were struck down
When they suddenly rushed into the
path OF An auto. OF were playing In the
street.
Educational work In the schools and
homes Is now looked TO Tor u lessening
of this danger. Al the same time. driv.
ers are being schoolcd To slow down
and have their cars under absolute con.
troi when they pass playing children.
Varying IN different cities. from i7.d
10 ~ per cent of all auto accidents are
attributed 10 had lighting. according 10
Earl A. Anderson. Illuminating engineer
FOR the General Electric company. who
nisde u survey In % cities. lie finds
that the majority occur during the din
evening rush hour before the lights ar,
on.