Evening star., 1927-10-26
|AUTO SALES GROW
DESPITE INSURANCE
Bay State Refutes Claim
That Compulsory Law Will
Retard Business.
RY WILLIAM UTMA\N.

Another claim or opponents OF COM
nulsory automobile liability insurance
-.-: hat the law has seriously interfer
cd with the sale OF mtor vehicles
is refuted today in official figures of
the Bureau of Public Roads. which
reveal that automobile registrations in
Massa chusetts have gained III per
cent this year. In the face of the
insistent declaration of foes of COM
pulsory insurance for the District Of
Columbia, these figures come as a
distinct surprise. for the allegation
has been reiterated time after time
that the automobile industry has felt
he Bay State statute keenly ever since
il went into effect last January.
Now ii is found that Massachusetts
is right at the top among the States
that have shown significant increases
in motor vehicle registrations during
the first half of the year. While the
country as whole reveals an aver.
aga increase of per cent. the Bay
States gain is Al per cent higher,
With Il total of 697 ,404 ears registered.
Other Charges DisprOved.
economic effects of the law the bu-
rcau'S figures come as welcome news
following, rs they do, close upon the
heels of the complete refutation of two
other charges against compulsory in
SllranCe; namely. that it would re-
suit in a rapid increase in traffic
mishaps and unjuStly would deprive
many of their right to operate cars
From the data compiled by the
Bureau of Public Roads, it is re-
garded as certain that the most pro-
cressive of industries has little to
fear from the enactment of COM
normally ''off" year everywhere. sales
have shown Il marked and significant
gain in the one State whore the law
already Is in effect. This is con
strued by advocates of such law
on a Nation. wide scale as an irref-
utabe indication that the altomO.
bile is too well established as an
essential Df life to feel a harmful
repercussion from a measure which
was designed primarily to compen-
safe victims of accidents, but which
also has achieved remlrka BILE sue
cess in reducing them.
Figures for the District Of Column
bia where no compulsory insurance
law is effective and where many ram.
shackled and dangerous cars are in
daily service, are in nowise compare.
bic to the gain registered in Mas
sachusetts. nor even to the average
gain throughout the country. With
9l.S13 cars registered up to July !,
the National Capital was but - per
cent ahead of last years figures, SO
per cent behind Massa chusetts and
4.S per cent less than the national
average.
In this, proponents Of compulsory
liability insurance profess to see
several significant facts, the most i'm
portant that new car sales are re-
tarded because of the prospective buy.
ers indisposition to chance using a
new automobile under conditions that
prophesy damage to it. The director
of traffic. it is pointed out, Is empow-
cred to make the streets safer for
good ears by condemning those that
are dangerous, but. to date such power
has not been exercised
Ihe bureaus report reveals that
national registrations have climbed to
2o,99l 1888, an increase of 1,374,578
over those of year ago.
Good Roads Aid Gains.
That automobile sales follow direct.
~ the good roads movement Is EN-.
phatlcaliy proved by the report which
shows three Southern States at the
top of the list among those rejecting
registration gains. Tennessee with
16.7 per cent leads with South Caro-.
lima and North Carolina close behind.
The registrations in the former State
have gained l55 per cent and in the
latter 1876 Illinois, West Virginia
and New Jersey also are among the
leaders.
Six States have fewer cars register.
Ell than year ago. rejecting localized
uhlaVorabie economic conditions.
These include Arkansas, Florida.
Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska and
South Dakota.
The total motor vehicle registrations
and the percentage of increase or de.
crease compared with the first half of
1926 were: