Evening star., 1928-10-14
LAYS AUTO DEATHS
ON CARELESSNESS
Road Builders Body BIames
1867 Fatalities on
Pedestrians.

CarelesSness on the part Of pedes-
trians was largely the reason for 1857
highway accident fatalities in 1927, the
American Road Builders Association
reported today. Pedestrian control has
become one of the most difficult prob
lens of city traffic officials, the or
ganization pointed out. Already nearly
one-half of the total number of per-
sons killed each year are pedestrians.
Last year 11,765 deaths in highway
accidents are charged to the carelessness
or discourtesy of motorists, while IL ,367
were the result of acts on the part Of
pedestrians. Some 3,486 persons lost
their lives as result of physical con-
ditions affecting traffic.
THE percentage of pedestrians killed
in highway accidents is increasing each
year." the American Road Builders
Association declared. This is a result
of the rapidly increasing population of
the country and the climb in registra-
ton of automobiles, particularly in al
ready congested sections of the United
States.
"The problem has become extremely
perplexing in many of the Nations
ldI SCoI ClLlSS. VdIlOuS LlcIIlOuS Vi pc
deStrian control have been attempted
and few of them have proven more
or less successful. The establishment
Of pedestrian control systems is a mat
ter which must be worked out in in
dividual municipalities to suit local
conditions.
Generally, however, the pedestrian
himself is at fault in highway accidents
in which he is involved. Failure to use
reasonable courtesy and caution while
crossing an intersection has resulted in
an inexcusable number of deaths. The
greatest single cause of pedestrian IA
talities is jaywalking. During the year
1927 a total of 3069 adults were killed
while in the act of crossing street
between legal intersections. This is a
practice which should be discouraged,
If not legally prohibited by the adoption
and rigid enforcement of pedestrian
regulations.
"A study Of statistical information re-
lating to pedestrian fatalities during
1927 shows an amazing number OF
children killed while crossing between
intersections or playing in the streets.
A total of 1888 children Of school age
were killed as a result of this form OF
carelessness alone.
LAS whole the pedestrian problem
is one OF the TlOSG perplehAlB WlACti
now exists in the entire field of acci-
dent prevention. The remedy is the
practice of courtesy and caution by
every individual. 1t has already been
proven that complex series of traffic
rules and safety regulations are inef-
| fective unless rigidly and constantly en-
| forced. III lieu of such regulations,
local campaigns should be waged de-
signed to influence the general public
into the adoption of the simple prin-
ciples of courtesy and caution"
| The organization urged all cities OF
the United States to adopt programs OF
safety education of children through
the medium of churches, schools and
juvenile organizations. Adults should
be informed as to the legal requirements
of pedestrian traffic and these legal re-
quirements should be made uniform for
all cities in so far as this may be pos
sible.
"A thorough study of the movement
of both pedestrian and vehicle trafhcc
will indicate to city officials the best
possible plans they may make IN behalf
of public safety. In the meantime the
general public must cooperate IN the
task of reducing the annual highway
accident toll by the practice OF cour-
/ .aI