Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23
NATIONAL APPEAL
FOR SAFETY MADE
A. A. A. Calls Upon All Motor
lists to Prevent AvoidabIe
Accidents.

Declaring that November and Deem
Der of 1929 accounted for STAB motor
fatalities and 200, 900 motor injuries, the
American Automobile Association issued
q Nationwide appeal today, urging all
motorists to do their utmost to relieve
national distress by preventing avoid
able accidents on the streets and high
ways.
THE period of economic depression
through which the country is now 60
ing and the inevitable distress and suf-
fering that accompanies 1t quadruples
the premium on careful driving,
Thomas P. Henry of Detroit, Mich,
president of the A. A. A., asserted. 1T
Is something that every motorist owes,
not only to his fellow citizens but to the
Nation"
Deems Understanding Necessary.
A thorough understanding by all mo-
florists Of the special hazards Of Winter
driving, the A. A A. executive said, Is
absolutely necessary for motorists who
are willing to mobilize in the national
safety brigade this Winter. He con-
tnued:
Our analysis Of Winter accidents
over the past few years has clearly dis
closed that the Winter months produce
q crop accruing from causes and con-
ditions peculiar to this season. They
fall into several broad categories.
There are, for example, thousands
of accidents due to skidding, which in
turn result from failure on the part of
motorists to make allowance for the
CO ering of fallen leaves that often
carpets country roads, suburban lanes
and city streets. We have numerous
examples of the same failure to make
allowance for slippery and sleety pave
mentS. Good brakes, sound tires and
cl aims are an assurance, but maximum
care and speed to Suit the conditions
are the only certain guarantees against
this type of motor mishap.
Poor Vision a Factor.
I'VE have every Winter large group
Of accidents due in the main to the
refusal of motorists to make allowance
for poor visibility. Clean Tindshields,
properly adjusted headlights and con-
Scious effort on the part Of motorists to
allow themselves more time and leis-
urely pace would do away with most CT
these accidents.
I'm the Wintertime particularly there
are many collisions due to failure on the
part Of the so-called turtle drivers TO
give proper hand signals. These would
oftentimes be not serious in themselves
except for the fact that broken and
flying glass often cause painful and
serious injuries, requiring emergency
treatment at hospitals. The natural
tendency to keep windows closed in cold
weather aggravates this type Of acct
dent. On the other hand, the advent
of non shattering glass and adoption
of it as standard equipment by many
of the large manufacturers holds a
promise for the solution of this problem.
Despite campaigns Of education, we
continue to have many deaths every
Winter from monoxide poisoning. These
could be avoided If motorists would re-
member the simple warning to open
their garage doors before starting the
motor.
Accidents to children skating and
Shedding on the streets could be alto
gether avoided if every city and town
adopted the sane and humane policy OF
setting aside and closing certain streets
at certain times of the day and night
for children to play in"