Evening star., 1924-03-09
ASKS PAPERS TOAD
IN ACCIDENT STUDY
National Auto Chamber
Seeks to Have Country
Wide Digest of Causes.

A combination between the news
papers of the country and the auto
mobile industry is sought as a means
Of reducing the list of traffic fatal
tiles.
This plan is sponsored by the re-
Gently appointed traffic planning and
safety committee of the National Au-
tomobile Chamber of Commerce.
Find the causes and you will find
the cure" This statement by George
NJ. Graham, chairman, summarizes the
permanent campaign now being
launched.
AS a first step in the program, the
association is seeking the assistance
OF the newspapers of the country,
asking that in reporting motor acci-
dents they endeavor as far as possi-
BILE to determine the causes of the
disasters. The papers cooperating
in this plan will forward a weekly
summary of the motor fatalities to
the National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce, and the association will
then issue monthly bulletins giving
national figures, together with cor
rectlNe suggestions.
Papers Cooperate.
Newspapers in some states have
slready agreed to participate in this
plan, and it is believed that there will
be general representation throughout
the country.
In some communities where the po-
lice or other agencies are already de-
termininG the causes of motor acci-
dents, the newspapers are planning to
use the figures available for a weekly
feature story showing the traffic diff
hculties in the particular city.
The program, which is indorsed by
40 hNn II nf l.
Automobile Chamber of Commerce, is
being planned and carried out by the
traffic planning and safety committee
or that body, which consists Of the
president, Chandler). chairman; AL
van Macauley president, Packard).
A. B. G. Hardy president, Oldsmo-
biie), Edward 5. Jordan tpresident,
Ioruan). George III. Pride (Autoca-)
and John c. Long On. a. c. c., Sec
retary.
when doctor is called in on a
casc," Mr.. Graham states in outlining
the plan, his first step is to make a
the number of traffic fatalities, but
that accFnplishes. little unless we
know what to do about it.
Newspapers render pubic Sery-
ice in reporting highway catastro-
phes, but that service becomes thor
oughly constructive only when facts
arc developed showing why the acci-
dents occur, so that the public may
know where the weak spots are.
We know in general way that
motor accidents are caused by care
lessnesS in driving. improper trait
regulation, jay-walking, insufficient
lighting of street or vehicles, physi-
cal distractions to view, too little
playground space for children, and
SO on.
But to what degree these factors
operate has Yet to be determined for
most communities.
Seek Major Causes.
There is no point in campaigning
Particularly for certain remedies un-
less we know that these will do away
with the major causes.
Furthermore, each city needs to
keep this diagnosis constantly up to
date. The civic body may have one
kind of i'll at one time and another at
another.
I'VE feel confident that these fig
ures when assembled into a national
picture, will give a general guide as
to what should be done in accident
prevention.
AT the same time communities
will have a continuous indicator OF
local conditions.
The automobile industry will spare
no effort or expense in making high
way travel more safe"