Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
PORTRAYS CHAOS DEVELOPED
BY DELUGE OF AUTOMOBILES
Need of Considering Methods for Elimi-
mating Dangers From Operation of 25,-
100000 Wheeled Vehicles Stressed.
BY GEORGE w. SUTTON, JR.

Within the next 10 years we are 60
ing to get around to real consideration
OF the chaotic, inefficient and dangerous
conditions which sudden deluge OF
25,000.000 automobiles has brought upon
us within the past quarter of q CEN
tury. We will change a lot of these
conditions: not because we want to, but
because We have got to. They are caus-
Ing us mental grief, bodily suffering, loss
OF time and money, and they are get
ting worse. We cannot leave these
problems for our children to solve. We
must do 1t now, ourselves.
You may think you are not interested
In automobiles. News about their me-
chanical developments changes in body
lines and such matters that appeal more
particularly to the rabid motoring fan
may leave you cold and slightly bored.
Nevertheless, there is hardly one man,
woman or moderately bright child in
the United States who would not
realize. If he paused to give the matter
thought, that the gasoline propelled
vehicle in the short space of 80 years
has grown to be a mighty factor in the
personal and national life of each Of
us. This is perfectly obvious fact,
albeit a most amazing one.
Public Not Prepared for Auto.
We were not prepared for the advent
Of the automobile, and it has over
Whelmed us. It represents the greatest
advance in the transportation of people
and goods since mankind came out of
the trees Of he did and began to walk
upright. It's benefits to our health, hap
pineSS, financial conditions and general
civilization are too apparent to talk
about. But it has brought with it, like
wise, some problems which are in grave
need OF solution and which we have
hitherto not been equipped to solve. I
am speaking now in behalf of the aver
age American motoriSt and in behalf of
the average sensible pedestrian. There
are approximately 100000 of us in
the first group and we are all in the
second group. We simply must get to-
gether and thrash this automobile
thing out before it get away from us
entirely.
Take, for example. the headlight
mess. That's the only thing to call
1t: OF all miserable, exasperating, in
efnclent, dangerous and downright
g foolish conditions in the motor world,
this is the worst. Progress has been
made in the scientific design of head
light The authorities in a number
OF the States have conducted laborious
tests to decide which forms of head
light lenses are legal" and which are
not. But with our roads damned with
cars, the enforcing of any strict head
light laws seems to be as difficult as
that OF one Of our most talked about
constitutional amendments Focusing
headlights and keeping them focused
is a difficult matter. The focus is
changed by varying loads of the car,
various types of roads. the condition of
our bulbs, lenses and ref1ectors, the
strength Of our batteries and wiring
and a number Of other considerations.
Improper Headlights Cited.
The American Automobile Associa-
ton, comprising over a thousand auto
mobile clubs, has announced that i'm
proper headlights are the direct cause
of from three to five per cent of all
our nighttime automobile accidents,
and, In cooperation with various auto
mobile authorities. they are trying to
correct the situation by educating the
car owners to focus their lights proper
ly. This is an impossible task
Meanwhile We go on. driving our
cars at night disappearing at the other
fellows lights, seldom focusing or adj
Justing our own, letting them shire
up through the rear windows of the
car Ahead with a dazzling reflection
on its rear-view mirror Many of our
cars have DINNERS located on the dash
board. This means we have to make
wild grab for the dimming button,
turn the lights of completely and then
turn the DINNERS on lust at the time
when our hands should be on the steer
ing wheel and our whole attention
should be focused on the road ahead
and the car or cars charging at us
with lights ablaze.
The whole solution of the headlight
problem is so simple that it is aston
1shing we have not realized it and acted
upon 1t long ago. It can be stated in
three wordS-Well Lighted Highways.
When our roads are Illuminated prop
eriy, which will happen gradually but
rather completely within the next 10
years, We shall need no bright head
lights at all. In fact, on main high
ways they will all be illegal" then.
And there will be a great lessening in
@9omobile accidents, a general sweet
cling OF motorists tempers and fewer
stories of motor car banditries and
hold-ups. 1t will take time: it will
cost lot of money; it will raise taxes
slightly. But 1t will be well worth it.
Surprise Foreseen in Tax Rate.
Speaking Of taxes, some day within
the next 10 years, we shall look back
at 1928 and laugh ruefully at the small
taxes We had to pay in that year. For
our cities have got to be entirely re-
designed and the sooner we start it the
less 1t will cost and the smaller burden,
OF taxation We shall leave for our chill
dren to pay.
At the present moment we are killing
almost 10000 people year and serious
ly injuring almost 800 900 through the
use of the automobile And precious
little is being done about it. In spite
OF vast and expensive campaigns of
public education, the fatalities from
automobile accidents are rising rapidly
and they will continue to rise until we
take note of the situation and act ac-
cordingly.
There are five remedies for this sit
uation, and only five. Here they are:
l. The separation of pedestrians and
automobiles
2, The separation of opposing lines
Of traffic.
3. The elimination of railroad grade
crossings.
4. More sturdily constructed auto
mobiles.
5. Properly lighted highways. 49,
A pedestrian cannot exchange bumps
with an automobile and yet hundreds
are trying it daily. 1t is an unequal
combat, entirely unfair to both the mo-
florists and the walkers. New, wide.
motoring boulevards must be built
through the centers of towns and cities
Some of these will be double decked,
with high-speed express motor traffic
running on the upper level Cross
walks and underpasses for both Pc
destrians and motor traffic must be con-
structed by the thousands.
In some places where present condi-
lions will not allow the widening of
the streets we must arcade the build
ings and put the sidewalks indoors.
Needed Changes Outlined.
To make all these changes in our
cities will cost billions of dollars if the
work is started Immediately it will
cost hundreds of billions if delayed 10