The Bismarck tribune., 1929-04-02
KILLINGS BY CARS
AVERAGE / TO 800,
t OR ABOUT rs DAILY
Increase Of 7 per Cent Shown,
With Montana Reporting the
Biggest lump Since 1927
LOOK FOR 10000 IN 1929
Many Of States Failed to Return
Fatalities of Collisions
With Trains

Approximately 27.500 persons were
killed in motor vehicle accidents In
the United States last year. 1t is in
dicated by nationwide survey
which includes figures from all but
three states.
This toll Of life Is more than z
per cent greater than the number
who met death in motor vehicle acci-
dents in 1927. If a similar increase
should be reported this year. 1t would
mean the death of almost 10000 per-
sons.
With approximately 25,OOO,OO
motor vehicles registered in the coun-
try at the close Of last year, a ia
tality toll Of approximately 27,5OO
means the death OF one person for
approximately every 900 cars. On an
average, also, IS persons were killed
in motor vehicle accidents during
each day Of last year or about $50
each week.
25,553 Killed in 1927
In 1927. according to the United
States Department of Commerce, the
total number Of persons killed in
motor vehicle accidents. including
deaths caused by collision of motor
vehicles with trains and street cars.
was 1858. Applying the 1923 in
crease Of 7.36 per cent, as shown by
the figures obtained by the Travel
crs Insurance company from directors
OF vital statistics and motor vehicle
departments In As states and the Dis
trict Of Columbia. 1t is seen that the
fatality record for 1923 is approx
imAtely 27.500.
The number Of motor vehicle
deaths last year may exceed 27,5O0,
because the average indicated in
crease Of 7.36 per cent includes pro-
visional figures from 10 states. In
three Of the states. and in ten others
and the District of Columbia, where
complete figures were reported, all
or part of the deaths caused by COL
: lision Of motor vehicles with trains
and street cars are excluded. In
Pennsylvania, also. the 1928 provi-
sional fatality toll excludes death
resulting from collision of motor We
hicles with trains and street cars,
although the 1927 figure includes such
deaths. Twenty-Five states, compris-
ing more than half the country's pop
ulation, In reporting 16,119 deaths in
1923, as against 1850 In 1927. in
cluded In their figures the deaths
caused by collision Of motor vehicles
with trains and street cars. With
these differences III the reports. the
total fatalities reported by all the IS
states and the District of Columbia
for the year was 24,864, as against
23.l60 in 1927.
New York state. which for several
years has shown a motor vehicle IA
tality toll In excess Of 1000. has been
joined by the state OF Illinois with
record Of 2,068 deaths in 1923.
Montana Jump Biggest
Eight states, including Montana,
Texas. South Dakota, Tennessee,
Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Connecticut
and New Mexico, report an increase
last year Of more than Is per cent In
the number Of persons killed in motor
vehicle accidents. Montana with q
gain Of more than IS per cent. had
the greatest increase, while Texas
and South Dakota also exceed their
1927 fatality tolls by more than SO
per cent.
OF the IS states and the District Of
Columbia reporting final figures for
last year. only eight states, including
Arizona. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa. Me-
vada, New Hampshire, South Caro-
lima and Virginia. show a reduction
In the number Of deaths caused by