The Washington times., 1924-12-08
Bad Eyesight as the Cause
of Auto Accidents
By BILL PRICE.

While Congress is considering critical traffic conditions in
Washington with view to comprehensive legislation that will
make this city safer for humanity should not overlook in
whatever action decides upon relative to restriction Of
licenses to drivers and the revocation Of drivers
licenses when in the public interest the matter Of defective
vision in large numbers of drivers
Doctor PAUL w. KnIBALI, welIknown Washington op
toetrist recently impressed upon this writer the serious
phases subnorma eyesght as cause Of numerous acct
dents He had read Times editorial recommending drastic
oca sc1lon e pus SOP 70 nnung neaognIs u the DIS
defective vision that forces many drivers adjust their head
lights that they become binding to the other fellow 1T
is only with the intense light that they able to distinguish
objects in front of them when driving in dmy lighted
his letter Statistics compN by authorities
period Of show that go persons in every 100 need
eyeglasses and 80 them What then of the other 80?
j. probably conservative estimate that there 1000 drivers
partially blind
This question Of defective vision is occupying the attention
OF traffic authorities throughout the country and there
movement all along the line to standardze visual require
ments in drivers.
District laws covering the whole subject Of traffic killings
and accidents defective virtually obsolete They re-
vision in the light of developments throughout the country
Congress which is Washngtons town council years be-
nnd mos cities and States in legislation that will diminish
auto accidents which have become national catastrophe
Congress is occupied with national matters that the most
they remain 80 $500
There is evidence however that Congress realizes the
Of the traffic situation here and will put through
some useful legislation before this session closes
In the opinion Of lighting experts everywhere the dnnc
OF lights on autos almost dangerous turning on
garlng lights The ideal way is for machines to have
lights adjusted that they garing but do furnish
sufficient light for drivers what they are doing Poor
vision undoubtedly for the Of garng head
lights o-e ~
The seriousness Of the question reduced visual perception
inducing official tests in many parts of the country The
police department Of Roanoke, Va has been carrying on
interesting tests and has established the rule that evev anu
cant Tor drivers license must have onea vision
10 OBTAIN permit to drive When the vision below that the
condition $40 y M
Inc Detroit police department examined the eyesight of
1O04 motorists and found 26 per cent with vision below
normal Connecticut has been making determine if
possible the relationship Of defective vision to accidents
In Great Britain steps being taken establish minimum
visual requirements.
1923 there 1900 fatal automobile accidents and
SOo persons were injured In the light Of these appalling
acts is but natural that the whole country becoming
aroused 20 the necessity for corrective measures
Casualty and surety underwriters claim that So per cent
OF all accidents avodabe We know that these figures
are pretty correct because know that most accidents
are que to deliberate disregard Of the rights others and to
absolute carelessness While bad vision factor the main
Offenders are the peeder DRINKS and Irresponsible most of
Wnom can see well but don't It the latter class that
congress should deal with here by making difficult for them
10 obtain drivers licenses and easy away from them
licenses issued when police records show that th
persistent and dangerous offenders