Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14
MOTORISTS DIGEST
BY CLAYTON GRAFT.


The Department of Commerce an
nounces that during the four weeks
ended June IS, 1929, 70 large cities in
the United States reported COZ deaths
from automobile accidents. This num-
Der (602) compares with sos deaths
during the four weeks ended June is,
1928. Most of these deaths were the re-
suit Of accidents which occurred within
the city limits, although few occurred
outside Of the cities.
For the years ended June Is, 1923,
ard June Is, 1928, the totals for the
rs cities were, respectively, 7,799 and
1927, which indicates a recent rate of
23.8 per 100000 population, as against
an earlier rate of 22.4, or an increase of
per cent, in the rate in single year.
OF this number there was 30 deaths
within the city limits of Washington, D.
c., although 1872 was reported as being
in the District Of Columbia, or at the
rate of 22.2 per 100000 population.
Kansas City, Kans., heads the list with
rate of 8.5, and of the 78 cities Wash
ington stands twenty-f1fth. OF the large
cities, however, Boston, Mass, has q
rate of 1871, New York City 1876 and
Philadelphia 1873.
approximately So per cent of new
cars were sold on time last year, which
is just 10 per cent smaller than 1925,
when credit sales accounted for SO per
cent Of the total business.
Automobile production for the month
OF June showed recession of about
10 per cent, notwithstanding the fact
high mark for any one month of 215, 900
cars and trucks. The highest monthly
total for any one factory before was in
October, 1925, when Ford turned out
100000 model T cars. The Ford Co.
reports high daily record also, when
9,100 cars and trucks rolled of their
several assembly lines on June 26.
In 1928 the parts, accessory and tire
business In the United States amounted
to $2,084,635 900.
The Court of Appeals in Kentucky re-
| Gently handed down a decision ordering
refund to truck owners of all moneys
paid for license fees levied on a basis
OF increased ratings fixed by the Ken
| lucky Tax Commission. The courts or
der, which will be far-reaching in its
effect, holds that the manufacturer
rating Is the only basis upon which levies
can be made. From evidence submitted
there is no doubt that trucks are al
| most universally overloaded, but this
particular practice will vary according
to the owners, the character Of the bust
ness. etc., and to make levies on that
basis would require every truck to be
| the subject of an individual investiga-
ton. ANY change in ratings will have
to come from the manufacturers. AL
| though 1t Is a generally accepted fact
that only few years ago q 3-ton truck
that would carry tons at maximum
speed OF IL miles per hour was entirely
satisfactory. But today the tendency on
| the part of most truck owners is to de-
mand truck that will not only carry a
IS to 100 per cent overload, but to also
maintain an average speed Of 10 miles
per hour in open country.
In 1928 there were 21,379,125 pleas
ure cars and 3,113,999 motor trucks
registered in the United States.
Those mostly interested in safety on
the streets of Cleveland, Ohio, recently
sponsored contest among the truck
drivers of a large number of fleet own
ers. The project resulted in reducing
accidents among these drivers, during
the, month of May. by 40 per cent. Such
tests reveals the fact that accident tolls
can be reduced somewhat when o spe-
clal effort is made on the part of the
drivers. 1t seems difficult task to i'm
press and educate drivers and pedes-
TRANS alike to exercise sufficient care to
reduce this ever-mounting toll of acct
| dents. The contest angle seemed to
work better than any former scheme
that had been tried.
Motor car registrations prove that
$50 per cent are owned in the rural
districts and small towns of less than
10000 inhabitants. Cities of over 500,
600 registers but ia per cent.
The parking problem Is becoming
more tense every day, not only in Wash
tngton, but everywhere. In Chicago
parking has not been permitted in the
congested district for about six months.
During that time only one fatality has
been reported from the no-parking
| area, whereas before fatalities were
| most frequent The outstanding fea-
lures of this regulation Is that it pro-
vides two additional traffic lanes, for
| merly taken up by parked cars. Where
traffic jams formerly were the rule, now
such jams are the exception. It fur
Their affords excellent visibility to every
one using the streets, due to the abb
sence Of these parked vehicles. TRAFFIC
has been speeded up considerable.