Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1928-01-20
MORE ACCIDENTS LAST
YEAR; FEWER DEATHS
[COmtinned from first baael

dents occurred. Most of them, or So
occurred during dry conditions a
against 44S in 1926. Those Cccurrin
in wet weather were Less in til
past year than in 1926, the figure
being 17S as against 202. This j
proof of the fact that motorists ar
learning the danger OF attempting t
speed under wet conditions, official
said. They know that as highway
were constructed up to this yea
with a smooth surface, that to pu
on the brakes means to skid ever
though the car may be only goins
rs miles an hour. Fortunately, under
the new way of building Gomez etc
highways such as was inaugurated
this year in Delaware, the corrugat-
ed surface almost entirely elimi-
mates sBidding in wet weather.
Further Indication of the desire of
motorists to avoid accidents is APP
parently proven in the figures for
mishaps occurring on straight roads.
During the year there were 445 on
tangents as against AGA of the year
previous, or 10 less than in 1926
The mishaps occurring at intersec-
lions crept up bit, there being 1913
as against 14O, but the number oc-
curing at railroad crossings show
ed an encouraging decrease, there
being but 20 as opposed to % in
1926.
More accidents occurred at curves
in 1927, with 81 as against for 1926.
Recklessness by drivers heads the
list, just as it has every month in the
year. The total for 1927 under reck-
Iessness was 176, which is 80 more
than in 1926. Carelessness is charg-
ed with 108 as against 105.
The drivers who continue to oper-
ate motor cars while intoxicated in |
creased one, there being sc in 1927, |
whose drunken driving resulted in
mishaps. Inattention was charged |
with 81 as against As the year previ-
Gus, and jay walking 80 as against
%.
There were fewer accidents due to
skidding with SO as against Al. OW-
ing to the crusade, it is believed, put
on by the state highway police
year ago to break up the careless
entering of main highway from a
cross road, there were fewer mis-
haps at cross roads with a total OF
81, which is 6 less than in 1926.
Glaring headlights, which the
State police have been trying to
remedy in the early winter, were
charged with % mishaps, which is 6
more than in 1926. Improvement was
made in the accidents charged to
loss of control, there being Is in the
past year, which is less than in
1926.
That motorists, almost entirely +
truck drivers, drive their machines
while asleep is proven by the TACT '
that there was the same number in
both years charged with this offense,
there being 16 in each year. For
driving too close there were IA acct
dents as against in 1926,
inexperienced operators were few +
er in causing accidents the number I
being 8 in 1927 which is two less
than in 1926. Parking on the high q
way was charged with 9 as against q
and the number accused of caus-
ing accidents because they stopped +.
their cars without giving warning Y
was 8 in each of the two years. n
There was no improvement in the Il
number of mishaps caused by turn T
ing out without giving warning the
total for each year being 6. These s
figures were also the same for both r
wears for mishaps charged against
defective brakes. 81
Showing the result of good work F
on the part of the State Highway
police to prevent the 1ndlnerent, d;
careless driver who wants to speed N
I'D at the expense of the safety OF H
others is indicated in the mishaps
charged to passing without proper 81
clearance. There were but 8 in the e.
mast wear as against 26 in the year
previous. Fog was charged with but n,
mishaps as against 8 for the year Ct
previous.
There were 6 mishaps caused by Ell
Tres blowing out and 5 with horse
lrawn vehicles without lights. OH ar
,ials point out it would be well tor
he driver of a horse-drawn VENICE
% realize that in case OF accldent II til
,e is driving without light he has it
10 recourse to law to recover dam p
lges.
There were 4 mishaps each during
he year charged to INSTRUCTED view
nd to drunken pedestrians. Three
.ccidents each happened to cars
unning off the concrete and to de-
ective steering gear.
There were 2 mishaps each caus-
d by no tail lights, by axle break
ny, by defective eyesight and by
assenger grabbing the steering
heel. If Delaware drivers were
ompelled to take an examination
MS item of defective eyesight would
e eliminated, the authorities be-
eve. There was one accident each
harged to jumping from a moving
.uck. falling from moving truck,
heel breaking, front wheel locking
nd frightened horse.
Sunday led every other day of the
eek in which the most accidents
,curred. there being 1919 in 1927
hich is 50 more than in 1926. Sat
-day was next high with 119 as
yainst 1873 in the year previous.
riday held third place with Monday
urth, Thursday fifth, Wednesday
xth, and Tuesday seventh.
More accidents occurred on clear
VS. with sos as against 44S. There
ere but 1926 on rainy days which is
less than in 1926. There were
IS mishaps due to fog with but
~ 1907 cloudy DAVIS were charg-