Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

number of automobile fatalities
each month, with each succeed
ing month much higher than the
previous one.
While no cause for the decrease
is assigned by the Division of
Vital Statistics, it Is reasonable to
believe that the active efforts of
the newspapers of the country In
urging safety, and seeking to COM
bat the increasing number of
deaths on the streets and roads,
have played a material part in
turning the automobile fatality
line downward.
Newspapers Credited.
Hundreds of editorials have ap-
peared throughout the country
during the Summer on the star
Ting aspects of the accident and
fatality record of 1929, with the
increase for the first six months
of this year, and discussing the
proposals and recommendations
of the third National Conference.
Attention has been given espe-
cially to the toll of lives at rail-
road grade crossings, and to the
increasing benefits of safety edu-
cation among children in the
schools.
In urging the enactment of uni
form State laws and municipal
ordinances as a means of simpli-
flying traffic regulations, and re-
ducing the hazard of accidents
through conflicting rules in diff
ferent States and jurisdictions,
the editorials direct attention to
the need for the passage of laws
by all States which have not done
so, providing for the mandatory
examination of automobile driv-
ers as to physical fitness and
ability to handle motor vehicles,
and of knowledge of traffic laws
and regulations.
The toll Of accidents and fatali-
ties for the last year, as revealed
in the report of the Committee on
Traffic Accident Statistics of the
Third National Conference, has
aroused editorial demands In
every State and in Canada for a
curb on reckless and careless
driving, and for control by law of
the privilege Of operating motor
vehicles on streets and highways.
An unusual number of newspa-
pers have urged the passage by
the legislatures of their States of
the uniform vehicle code of the
National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety consisting of
four acts, as follows: /. Uniform
motor vehicle registration act. 2.
Uniform motor vehicle anti-theft
act. 8. Uniform motor vehicle
operators and chauffeurs' license
act. 4. Uniform act regulating
traffic on highways-and the
model municipal traffic ordinance
for adoption by cities and towns.
A still further improvement in
highway grade crossing safety, as
compared with last year, Is shown
by reports for the first five months
this year, just filed by the rail-
roads with the Interstate Com
merce Commission and made pub
lie today.
Not only were there fewer ac-
cidentS, fatalities and persons in
jured in the five months period,
compared with the same period in
1929, but there also was improve
ment shown for the month of
May, compared with the same
month one year ago.
Grade Crossing Figures.
Accidents at highway grade
crossings totaled 2.009 for the
first five months this year, a re-
duction of $50 compared with the
corresponding period in 1929.
Fatalities resulting from such &C
cidentS totaled 800 in the first
five months of 1880, a reduction of
154 compared with the same Pc
Rod last year, while persons in
jured totaled 1925, reduction of
211 under one year ago.
In the month of May this year
there were 366 highway grade
crossing accidents, compared with
449 in May last year, while there
were 1855 fatalities in May, 1880,
compared with 224 one year ago.
Persons injured in May this year
totaled Alb, compared with 507 in
May, 1929.
The railroads for some years
have been conducting an inten-
sive campaign in an effort to i'm
press on the public the necessity
for greater care being exercised in
passing over highway grade cross
ingS, but the solution of the prob
lem as to increased safety at
highway grade crossings Is one in
which the cooperation of the
public is necessary. In addition to
conducting an intensive cam
paign, the railroads also have
spent millions of dollars to pro-
tect human life at such crossings,
not only by the installation of
mechanical and other devices de-
signed to warn motorists of ap-
preaching trains, but also through
the elimination of some of the
most dangerous crossings
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