Evening star., 1924-11-09
POOR VISION HELD
CAUSE OF M|SHAPS
Study Shows IS Per Cent
i Of Auto Accidents Could
| Be Prevented.

Failure to safeguard the vision of
practically all the automobile driv-
ers of the country is disclosed by the
EyesiEht Conservation Council of
America. Eighty-five per cent Of ac-
cidents are called preventable.
survey of the motor vehicle laws
Of the various states reveals ''un-
warranted neglect" according to the
council which in a report just is
sued from its national headquarters
in New York, associates the menace
OF poor eycsight with the steady null
tiplication of mishaps.
The number of automobile acci-
dents says the report. lis incrcas-
ing steadily at the rate of 1000 a
year A nation wide effort should be
made to correct this frightful situa-
ton. Accumulated into annual totals,
these accidents become an enormous
national catastrophe.
Survey OF state Laws.
Cnquestionably good eyesight is a
prime requisite for all who drive
motor cars. and those with poor vision
are danger. asserts the report, con-
tinuinG:
"A survey of the motor vehicle
laws of the various states shows that
only four states - Delaware. Mime
statutory reference to the eyesight of
operators The provisions Of these
state laws are merely more or less
vague statements that the eyesIsht
of applicants must not be impaired
or defective.
State officials report that the eye
sight of applicants is tested in nNe
addit ional states. Maryland. New
Hampshire. New Jersey. Ohio and
49, lrntN
OF the Interpretation and enforce
nent of the laws and the methods
used shows that the work generally
is done too hurriedly and carelessly
10 be effective
.'Since this applies to only nine
States, the conclusion is reached that
proper attention is not given to the
eyesight of practically the entire mo
tor population of the United States.
Defective Vision n Menace.
pefcctive vision is obviously n con-
n 'buting cause Of automobile acct
dents although no comprehensive and
Authoritative investigation has been
made to determine Il definite rela-
tionShip. the report states adding
that there are many factors entering
into the automobile accident problem
The inter Relationship of one factor
with another makes ii difficult to
segrcgate the defective vision factor.
In order to arrive at any conclusive
data applicable to the entire motor
driving population, il was said. 1t
would be necessary to make carcfuI
analysis of large groups.
The department of motor vehicles
of Connecticut" the councils report
goes on. "is examining the eyes OF
limited number Of operators involved
In motor accidents. for the purpose OF
arriving if possible, at some definite
relationship of defective vision to ac-
cidnntS.
The increasing number Of acci-
dents caused by motor traffic in Great
Britain led to a study by experts. re-
..ulting in the rs,oinme ndatio o!
minimum Nisua -"q'f:-t 'cniS Tor mo-
tor drivers in that country.
similar 'isua sJardH"i" should be
defined for the United States and in
corporated in the motor vehicle laws
of every state as necessary requi-
site for all motor drivers. Thereby
would he established at least one ef
feGtivc measure for lessening the ter
rible toll of human life.
Honver'~ Conference Cited.
"A conference on street and highway
safety recently organized by Secretary
Hoover is now studying all phases OF
the traffic accident problem. The con-
ference is cO-orGiGating the work OF
various national organizations pro-
noting safer conditinnS OF ira Tic.
1T is the CDiI,on of Sroun OF CN-
perts that education Of the autpnobil"
driver and ped t"t-:- 20 their "e~"onsi-
biiitiss will 60 i:,r .owa"d reducing The
prs, TT numb + q - fl aca' dents
Citing the Nat;onu! Ru~ 2u Of Cas-
ua'ty and Surety l. j writers. t'-e
council "ays thai th,re occurred Il.V67
fatal automobile accidepta il 1920. -
23S in 1921. 1850 in 1922 and 1900
in 1925.
More than 5000 people were killed
in enc year jr automobile accidents and
p times as many more injured" accord
ing TO the councils report. 1T is claimed
that 50 per cent of ali accidents are
prevontahe and when it is realized that
q large proportion Of all persons have
reduced visual perception it would seem
reasonable TO expect that as a measure
of public safety precautions should be
taken to make sure that nc one is per-
nltted to drive a car unless vision is up
70 a rea sonable standard"
Experiments by Police.
The council tells OF experiments being
conducted by municipal police depart
mentS, saying:
The seriousness Of this question
Is well illustrated by the results of
tests that are being carried Oh by
the police depa artment OF Roanoke,
Va. Since January |, 1924 the rule
has been made that every applicant
for a drivers license must have at
least one-half normal vision to re-
ceive a permit to drive.
''If vision is below this. the ap-
Olicant is advised to have his eyes
examined to obtain glasses to better
his condition, ii possible. If vision
cannot be brought to one-half normal
the permit is permanently refused.
"Out of 4,4s6 applicants. 124 were