The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-06-27
The Search for Safety

Collection of complete statistics and other basic infor-
nation on street and highway accidents. deaths and IN
juries by the different states is Of prime Importance IN
devising effective remedies and proper safeguards, in the
view of the third national conference on street and high
way safety.
The information, it was indicated, should be gathered
by a state bureau or department with competent author
ity, and the statistics should be assembled and mace
available on a basis that will render them comparable
with those of other states. The State Health department
of North Dakota carries on a work Of this character.
This data is particularly useful in identifying danger
points on streets or highways and in ascertaining hazard
Gus driving habits which should be corrected through
control and regulation OF vehicular traffic, and In the
education of highway users and pedestrians in safety
precautions and practices.
In proposing this action to the states, the conference
pointed out through its committee reports that in 1929
one in every three accidental deaths from any cause was
due directly or indirectly to automobile operation. In
1920 only one in six deaths from accidental causes was
attributable to automobile operation. It was thus seen
that the relative importance of automobile fatalities to
the total number Of deaths from all accidental causes
doubled in nine years.
In a total of $4,000 persons who lost their lives in the
streets or on the roads in 1929, the investigation of the
conference committee on uniform traffic statistics indi-
Gated that 1000 were directly attributable to motor
vehicles. The total number Of deaths from motor We
hlcleS increased IN 1871 over 1875 Dy o,U44, ana over lS2U
by 18,443. The ratio Of increase in 1929 over 1920 was
1853 per cent.
It was shown also that the accident death rate from
motor vehicles increased from l19 per 100000 population
in 1920 to 25y6 per 100000 population in 1929, but that
during the same time the death rate from all other acci-
dental causes declined from 595 per 100000 population in
1920 to 54.4 per 100000 population in 1925.
In proposing that the states assemble statistics and
factual information on vehicle accidents. the conference
said:
Reasonable uniformity in reporting and tabulating
schedules. with standard definition Of terms, is essential.
Sufficient detailed Information should be included to
indicate clearly the circumstances surrounding the &C
cident. as follows:
II. Recklessness. carelessness or ~incapacity of persons.
-. Fault Of mechanism Of the vehicle, or mainten-
ance Of same.
70. Physical condition Of locality where the accident
occurred.
Accident spot maps and card files should be maintains
ed to detect points where accidents occur most frequent
ly and to form a basis for plans to eliminate the condi-
tons which may lead to accidents
In dealing with this question the states and cities are
urged to adopt the standard accident report form that
has been developed in recent years by government and
private agencies. and through which 1t is possible to
make comparable studies Of traffic accidents, and to de-
termine the specific causes, or groups Of causes, in con-
uection with the total number Of accidents.