Evening star., 1929-12-15
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

relatively inactive crossings will be
in effect for some time to come.
Such signs, however, should be
placed at least 500 feet before one
comes to the tracks in order to al
low for the increased speed of the
automobile as compared with the
horse and buggy. The location of
the majority of signs was deter
mined in horse drawn vehicle
days.
The encouraging element in the
hazards is that a thoroughgoing
program can cut down the traffic
toll by approximately 10 per cent.
The grade-croSSing tolls are now
approximately 10 per cent of the
total. They will never be entirely
done away with, but their danger
can be substantially abated.
The report of the California
Railroad Commission, which is
signed by j. G. Hunter, tranSpor-
tation engineer, gives some very
enlightening figures suggesting
how traffic tolls can be reduced.
The figures indicate that the
railroads, as we'll as the motorists,
have a considerable accident prob
lem aside from that at grade
crossings.
Apparently the accident problem
of the motor bus is being success
fully handled, as it has small
number of motor fatalities scored
against it.
Another important table in this
report is that showing the number
of accidents at obStructed and un-
obStructed points. The figures in
dicate that even where the view is
clear the motoriSt does not take
precautions. On the other hand,
there can be nothing but harm in
concealed crossings.
The types of protection at the
crossing is another matter which
warrants consideration. We see
that by far the greatest number
of accidents occur at crossings
where the protection is a crossing
sign only. Such a sign is, in fact,
not classified as protection in the
records of the Interstate Com
merce Commission. It is impor-
tant to know, however. that much
educational effort would be needed
even under 100 per cent protec-
ton, since there are a considerable
number of accidents under the
wigwag signal, fagman and other
forms of protection.
Regarding Speed.
Speed limits are attacked daily.
The idea that fast driving is not
the cause of accidents is fast be-
ing adopted. Along this line the
American Research Foundation
has just issued bulletin that
states there will be no such thing
as laws limiting the speed of auto
mobiles in the United States with
in less than 80 years. The bulletin
further states:
Thirty years ago, in the pre-
automobile age, there was no
speed limit imposed on vehicular
traffic" says the bulletin, "and 80
years hence, when motor-car reg
may have passed the
50,000,000 mark, it is highly prob
able that no State or municipality |
will attempt to place any arbitrary |
mileage limit on speed.
"Since 1910 the average auto |
mobile speed allowance for the |
country has been increased from |
20 miles per hour to 38 miles per |
hour, and the tendency toward re-
vision is constantly upward. Five
States already have abolished the |
fixed speed limit and others are
preparing similar legislation. That |
higher speeds are here to stay is
indicated by the fact that while
the average speed allowance on
highways has nearly
doubled in the last 20 years, the
rate of acceleration in automobiles
today is more than three times as
great as it was two decades ago.
with speed as the watchword,
the most serious question on the
today is not how fast a
motoriSt can go, but how fast he
can stop. Speed itself, traffic eX-
pertS say, is not the peril it is pop
ularly supposed to be. But speed
in combination with other factors,
such as defective brakes or faulty
steering apparatus, is what pro-
duceS accidents. A recent survey
disclosed that out of 4,899 motor
cars involved in accidents on
which faulty equipment was re-
ported, defective brakes accounted
for 80 per cent Of the defects.
With the strain which fast driving
and quick stops throw on braking
mechaniSnS safety is dependent
on rigid attention to the condition
of the motorists brakes with tests
and adjustments, if necessary,
every two weeks. In most cases
experts recommend refining of the
brakes and truing of the drums
after every 10000 miles of driving
as the car owners most effective
accident preventive"