Evening star., 1924-11-23

Trafic accidents in the United
States took a toll Of lives in 1923
almost exactly one-third OF the total
battle losses OF American troops in
10 months OF participation in the most
sanguine war in history-the World
War. Traffc accidents last year Sc
riously injured more than twice the
total casualties OF American troops
In the war. including dead. wounded,
missing and captured, and injured
more than three times the number OF
American troops wounded in the 1s
months of American participation In
the great conflict.
Announcing the toll OF accidents on
the streets and highways of the
United States last year, when trafnc
mishaps killed 23,soo and injured Sc
riously 67s.0oo more, the committee
on statistics of the national confer
eucs on street and highway safety, to
meet at the call of Secretary Hoover,
December 10 and Is. draws a conclu-
sion which is particularly applicable
to the present situation in Washing
ton where several persons recently
have been killed by automobiles
whose drivers have not been appre-
hended. 1T should be made obliga-
tory by law for those concerned to
report all traf1c accidents" the re-
port says, "and an adequate penalty
for failure to report should be pro-
vided." .
COMPARED with War Losses.
Here is a. comparison OF American
World War losses with trafic acci-
dents in 1929:
Total American casualties in the
war-(1s months)-s74:s5s
Total battle deaths, S7,S13.
Total wounded. 1s2.4s3.
Deaths from traffic accidents, 1923,
22,soo.
Serious personal injuries from traf-
nc accidents, $4,000.
Eishty-fve per cent OF the acci-
dents recorded for 1928 were due to
automobile traffic, the report declared
The statistics committee was made
up of Director w. NJ. Steuart OF the
Bureau OF the Census. chairman; DR..
Louis I. Dublin and z. w. kopf Of
the Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company, New York; Charles P. Cres-
we'll of the Association OF Life In
surance Presidents, New York;
W. J. Cox of the National Bureau Of
Casualty and Surety Underwriters,
New York; Harold r. Gordon OF the
Health and Accident Underwriters
Conference, Chicago: Dean A. n.
Johnson Of the University OF Mary
land, representing the American En-
eineerinR Council: J. c. Long of the
National Automobile Chamber OF
Commerce, New York; Director NJ O..
Lorenz Of the Bureau Of Statistics of
the Interstate Commerce Commission;
e. ]. Murphy. chief statistician OF the
American Railway Association. New
York: DR.. ]. H. Parmelee, director Of
the Bureau of Railway Economics;
J. w. OFT Of the Integrity Mutual
Casualty Company, Chicago: Chief
Joseph NJ Quigley of the Rochester
Police Department; Ethelbert Stew
art, United States Commissioner of
Labor Statistics. Department Of
Labor; NJ W. ToYkelson. engineering
secretary OF the Wisconsin Highway
Commission, Madison. Wis: ]. H.
Evsns of the order OF Railway Con-
ductors of America, Cedar Rapids; C.
r. dalton OF the Bureau of Municipal
Research. Rochester: Frank A. Good
win. registrar of motor vehicles, Bos-
ton, and ]. c. Tracy Of Yale Uni
versity.
A study Of the motor vehicle laws
Of the 4s States and the District Of
Columbia, the report says. shows that
most States have some provision for
reporting traffic accidents. Few.
however, made the requirement in
such a way that any centralized
statistics are available.
In the District Of Columbia re-
port OF an accident must be made to
the nearest police officer, while the
District also requires q report Of ac-
cidents from the railroads and pub
lie utilities.
The committee submitted tho fol-
lowing findings and recommenda-
tons:
I'm 1928 the loss in the United
States due to street and highway ac-
cidents amounted to 22,600 human
lives. $4,000 serious personal injuries
and $500, ,ooo. 900 economic loss, an In
crease Of 50 per cent in the past seven
years. About IS per cent Of these ac-
cidents were due to automobile trafflc-
Statistics regarding street and
highway accidents are so vital to any
treatment Of the safety problem that
their collection and analysis in every
State and community are essential.
New Laws Favored.
Where the DO not now exist. statutes
should be passed IN every State, which
would make It the specific business OF
some State agency. preferably that
clothed with authority for issuing or
revokinS licenses. to receive trafic
accident reports and to investigate
accidents, whether occurring within
or without the corporate limits OF
municipalities
TT should be made obligatory by
law for those concerned to report all
traffic accidents, and an: adequate
penalty for failure to report should
be provided.
Reasonable uniformity in report
ing and tabulating schedules is es-
sential.
STANDARD definitions OF terms
should be generally adopted and some
competent body should undertake the
compilation OF such definitions,
:. ..'Sufficiently detailed information
should be gathered to indicate clearly