Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10
26.65S,45O Cars in U. S.


fled to the United States; more
than three times the number of
motor vehicles registered in all
foreign and non-contiguous coun-
tries. Assuming a world popula-
ton of 1,940000,000, the depart
fnent's census shows one automo-
bile registered to every So per-
sons, reducing the ratio OF a
year ago when 1t was one to every
81 persons.
Ownership of motor cars in the
United States is far in advance OF
any other country with one auto
mobile to every as persons, COM
pairing with one for every ZIG per-
sons outside of the United States.
This explains" says the Acct
dent Statistics Bureau OF New
York, why the United States has
an accident death rate of 1872 per
100000, more than twice as hlgn
as Germany, France, Italy or Hol-
land. Deaths from automobile &C
cidents in rs large American cities
during the SO weeks ending April,
1880, show an increase OF Is per
cent over the same period Of 1929,
according to the Bureau OF the
Census, which lists 8,675 fatalities
in 1880, against 1857 in 1929. Life
insurance figures indicate that in
turies from broken glass account
for about 65 per cent of total IN
iuries. fatal or otherwise, and
that the general introduction of
shatterproof glass should reduce
this figure materially. Nineteen
car manufacturer have already
adopted 1t.
Fatalities in Larger Cities.
1.-THE six cities of the United
States credited with having more
than a million population showed
an increase in death from acct
dents, in the period ending in
1880. as compared with 1929, with
one exception. This was Chicago,
which shows a decrease of 18. The
ranking of these cities by accident
fatalities in the 1880 period is as
follows: New York, Chicago, Los
Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia and
Cleveland"
Approximately one-third Of the
automobiles now using the high
ways of the United States are OPP
Grating with defective brakes, &C
cording to w. A. Blume, vice pres
ident and chief engineer OF
large American brake corporation.
Mr.. Blume's estimate that a
third of the 100000 American
motor cars are equipped with de-
fectiye brakes is based upon re-
ports of brake-testing campaigns
from many cities. The, most COM
nrehensive of these campaigns re-
Gently was undertaken by safety
organizations and automoblle
clubs throughout the country,
with more than 1000 cities Scneo-
uled to cooperate in the tests.
1.-THE Detroit tests" Mr.. Blume
said, were completed about the
last of June and brought 10000
automobiles under the eyes of the
inspection crew. Statistics showed
that 40 per cent of them were OPP
Grating with faulty brakes or
headlights, largely the former,
and that S per cent were defective
in steering. The brake tests were
conducted by means of a tele-
gauge, recording separately the
pressure on each brake. The tests
were conducted under the spon-
sorship of the Detroit Automobile
Club, Public Safety League ana
the Detroit Auto Dealers ASSocia-
ton.
Reports from Syracuse, N. Y;
Decatur, Ill; Colorado Springs,
Colo, and Alexandria, Va, indi-
cate similar results for those
cities.
Many Defective Brakes.
"a total of 1928 cars were ex-
amined at Colorado Springs dur
ing a five-day safety drive. OF
this number, 1,105 were found to
have defective brakes. The first
day of the campaign 3o5 ma
chimes were inspected, Of wh.cl,
265 were defective in one way o.
another, usually because Of poor
brakes. Seventy of these drivers
returned later with their cars Re-
paired. The others presumably
still are on the streets.
"a three-day campaign just has
been conducted by the Kansas
City Safety Council. I don't have
the final figures yet, but the re-
suits of the 1927 test indicate
what we may expect. At that time
the brakes on 32,729 cars were
tested, of which "a per cent were
found to be faulty.
"All of these reports, with their
close uniformity, indicate very
clearly that millions of cars now
on the highways are operated
with faulty brakes, a constant
hazard in these days of congested
traffic and high speed"
Analysis shows that no two ad-
Joining States in the Union today
have uniform regulations covering
motor trucks. Among other things,
this applies to such essentials as
weights, lengths, heights and
traff1c codes. Pointing out the Sit
uation as it exists, G. A. Tilt, pres
ident in the automotive industry,
cites the difficulties and compll-
cations that naturally result from
lack of uniformity.
There has been tendency to-
ward aiding motor trucks" says
Mr.. Tilt. This has come partly
from appreciation Of the vital
part they play in the Nations
scheme of transportation. 1t has
been due to recognition Of the
great improvements which have
been made in motor truck design
along lines of quietness and
smoothness of operation, greater
power per pound of weight and