Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-27
HOOVER WELCOMES
HIGHWAY SAFETY
CONFERENCE TODAY
Continued From First page.l

ice. It is the application of massed
intelligence to the solution of q pecu-
liarly difficult problem.
THE Federal Government can prop
erly assist in securing the spread of
information and ideas and co-ordina-
ton OF activities, but 1t still remains
fact, nevertheless, that the State and
local authorities, with the cooperation
OF the public, must be responsible for
the practical application of remedial
measures. The remedies developed by
this conference must, therefore, rest
Tor their final effectiveness upon the
action of the States and the commune
ties, supported in every possible way by
the great body of citizenship.
u appreciate the response shown
from all parts of the country in the
assembly Of this conference, and I am
confident that by consistent application
OF the recommendations which you will
develop there may come a distinct bet
terment in the conditions of our street
and highway traffic. On your efforts
thus largely hinges the safety and well
being OF large percentage of our peo-
pie. congratulate you upon what
you have already accomplished and as
sure you Of my best wishes for the
success of your further efforts. And I
bespeak for you the earnest co-opera-
lion OF every citizen"
Lamont Presides.
Robert p. Lamont, Secretary Of Com
merce, presided over the conference as
its chairman at the opening meeting,
which was held in the council cham
Der OF the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States. Summarizing the
reports Of various committees, he said
that reports on automobile trafic
read like those of war conducted
on many fronts. Reports from the
trafdc fronts leave no doubt as to the
seriousness of the situation"
Pointing out that motor vehicle IA
talt1es have steadily increased from
1880 in 1920 to 81 900 in 1929, Secre-
tary Lamont said, There Is q special
need Tor development among our peo-
pie Tor such sense of values that the
lure of speed will be properly subordi-
mated to the right of others to reason
able and safe enjoyment of the use of
our streets and highways"
Some Encouraging Signs.
There are some encouraging signs,
notably in the improvement in the traf-
nc fatality record among children and
the number Of railway grade crossing
accidents Mr. Lamont said. He added
accident records "is not encouraging. /"
The delegates were welcomed by VIII
liam P. Butterworth president of the
Chamber OF Commerce of the United
states, and Thomas p. Henry, presi-
dent Of the American Automobile Assoc
citation, both of whom pledged their CO.
operation to the conference. Delegations
from States as far West as Washington
were present, with the largest groups
from New York, New Jersey and Penn
sylvania.
I'm view Of the emphatic and wide
spread demand for uniform and effec.
tive traffic laws" Mr.. Lamont said, at
must be said that progress today ap-
pears far from adequate"
In this connection, Mr.. Lamont en-
phaSized that the uniform vehicle code.
which was adopted in 1925, has been
adopted IN whole or in part by % States,
adding that an effort should be made to
encourage adoption of the code by all
the State governments.
This code, dealing with motor vehicle
registration. certtf1cation of titles, IL
cens1ng OF operators and chauffeurs and
regulation Of the operation of vehicles
on the highways, was before the confer
ence with few recommendations of
change.
Before discussing it, drafting COM
mlttee, composed of representatives of
all OF the affiliated organizations pres
ent, was appointed to prepare such reso-
lutions as the conference may adopt at
Its closing meeting Thursday.
committees on traffic accident sta
tlsticS and on uniform traffic regulation
were presented to the conference TODAY.
the first showing that the total number
of persons injured in traffic accidents
last year was estimated at 1900 900,
with 100000 hurt by motor vehicles
ana the total traffic fatalities having in
creased 80 per cent over the previous
year. The traffic fatality rate per 100
000 population rose steadily from 16, in
1920, to 27.2, In 1929, the committee
said.
Trolley Fatalities Fall on.
Fatalities due to street car accidents
showed a gradual downward tendency
from 1920 to 1929 and the Committee
said that "the outstanding factor in the
alarming growth in the trafic accident
problem Is the intensive and extensive
utlllzation OF the automobile"
The committee said statistics indi-
cate mat more than so per cent Of the
accidents occur at street intersections
thus supplying a clew as to where
safety activities should be conferred"
crossing the street at intersections
was said to be the most prodnctive
cause OF death to pedestrians. with
crossing the street between intersec-
| tons ranking second" and "at plav in
the street ranking third"
| Secretary Lamont pointed out tina;
IN the last seven years, while adult
fatalities were more than doubling, those
OF children increased by less than rs
per cent.
This improvement is largely attrib.
utable to safety education in tho
schools" he said, land to the successful
operation Of Schoolboy patrols In safe.
guarding children on their way to anc
from schools"
Schoolboy patrols are maintained ir
several Of WaShington's schools anC
have been described as greatly success.
ful by both school and trafflc officials
The committee on trafic acciden,
statistics told the conference thai
fatalities caused by vehicles other thar
automobiles appeared to be on the de.
cline, and that the major problem
in street and highway safety revolye.
around the automobile. Adults of 81
years or more are involved to the great.
est degree in pedestrian accidents, thu
committee said, adding that Gin a grow.
ing number of cities It has been founc
practicable and desirable to provide
special accident investigation bureau
or squad in the Police Department tx
visit Immediately the scene Of every
important street accident, taking photo.
graphs and exact measurements of thu
position and course of the vehicles anC
noting any other conditions having &
! bearing on the matter"