Evening star., 1925-06-14
TRAFFIC DEATHS
BEING DIMINISHED
Decrease of 21-2 Per Cent in
Month of April Reported
by StatisticianS.

A definite sign of progress in the
movement to reduce the number of
traffic fatalities is reflected in the
record for the month of April compiled
by the National Automobile Chamber
of Commerce. A general decrease of
2i2 per cent was accomplished during
that month as compared with the
number of fatal accidents which oc-
Cured during March.
The number of fatalities was cut
from 397 in April of last year to 3SS
in April of the present year in 81
cities of more than 100 900 population.
\ considerable reduction was effected
over March of this year during which
$40 persons lost their lives in motor
mishaps.
Along with other cities. Washington
was in A position to report fewer
traffic accidents which ended fatally.
While there were IL killed in the Ma
tional Capital in March last, there
were but eight killed in April. Twen-
ty-eight persons were fatally hurt
during the first four months of 1925
as compared with % in the same pc
riod of last year. A comparison of the
figures of April. 1925, with those Of
April last year is not so reassuring.
There were six killed last year in
April and eight in April of the pres
however, in studying traffic fatalities
in Washington that the new traffic
regulations which resulted from the
focusing of attention on the traffic
problem here did not become effective
until May 8 last. Since that time real
strides have been made In the direc-
ton of holding down traffic deaths to
a minimum.
Big Cities Show Improvement.
A noticeable improvement is record
ed for several of the large cities
While 295 persons lost their lives in
street accidents in New York during
the first four months of 1924, sthiS
number was reduced to 265 during the
same period of 1925 A comparison
for the same periods for other cities
shows that Philadelphia cut fatalities
from 96 to "a. Los Angeles from 110
TO rs, Detroit from 81 to rs, Pitts
burGh from 45 to AZ, and San Fran
cisco from 81 to SO.
There We're 36 cities which had no
motor fatalities during April. Among
these were cities as large as Spring
field and Worcester. Mass, demon
strating the possibility of entirely
eliminating the hazard to life from
motor vehicles.
The causes of deaths resulting from
automobile accidents were varied.
Driving too fast under prevailing con
ditions was the principal fault where
the motorist was responsible. There
were 90 deaths attributed to this cause
during April. Violation of the rules
of the road was responsible for 20
deaths. To inattention were attrib-
uted Is fatalities, while intoxicat ton
was at the root of 8, and confusion
responsible for Is. OF the total num-
her of deaths in April, 11S were at
tributed TO some negligent or careless
act on the part of the pedestrian.
Jay-walking appeared to be the dom
inant cause of injury to pedestrians.
Fifty.six adults were killed for this
reason. while SO children were fatally
hurt while crossing contrary to traffic
rules or playing in the streets. Child
accidents were Is per cent of the total
But this phase of the traffic situation
has shown marked improvement, as
the proportion has at times reached
10 per cent.
In New York the reduction of 10
per cent in motor fatalities during the
frst four months of this year is at
trlbuted by traffic authorities to the
work of the Bureau of Public Safety
of the Police Department Education.
especially in the schools, has been the
Keynote of this work. Safety lectures
were attended by 596,2l9 children,
while 1,250,000 school children signed
safety pledge.