The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-21
Stoeckel To Type
 Safety Automobiles
Sees Start of Plan Whereby Purchaser Will Demand Safety Features in Cars of Tomorrow

A detailed study of the perform ance of every kind of automobile used in Connecticut is to be made by the state motor vehicle depart ment to classify. if possible, the types of accidents to which the various makes are prone because of mechin- ical failures or lack of safety essen- tials. Announcement of this pro- gram is made by Commissioner Robbins E. Stoeckel in the January bulletin of the department in which is discussed the importance of secur- ing safety through cooperative ef- forts of manufacturers, the state and car buyers.
 Supplementing this announcement, Commissioner Stoeckel said to-day that information filed with the de- partment or collected by department inspectors concerning accidents will be the basis for the study The per formance of every car involved in an accident, so far as can be learned, will be recorded. This will include information on performance imme- diately before the collision, the con- dition of the cars equipment at that time, details of the accident, and the results to the car, it's passengers and to other persons and objects.
 If the accident occurs because of mechanical failure, this fact will be recorded and investigation made to discover whether other cars of the same make are easily subject to this failure. If a number of cars of the same make catch fire after acci- dents, study will be made to ascer- tain why this is so, whether there is improper wiring, or improperly placed gasoline tank. or some other defect which migh easily cause fire. In the same manner other serious results will be tabulated and studied.
 Car buying on safety basis is not yet here" says the bulletin. That is, it is not practiced in a de- gree proDortionate with purchasing because of spectacular features. If any argument is needed to prove this assertion. we might consider car advertising to see what features are emphasized: Speed" new design, more power.' greater comfort,
 bigger and better 'freewheeling. Comfort, performance and economy are stressed. But where is safety? In advertising it is secondary; often it is neglected entirely. Why does this situation exist? Is there any other reason that the individual does not demand safety?
 Suppose few thousand citizens ask for, or even notice the safety equipment, is it not true that their demands will be met and that more highway safety will result?
 Sometimes, but rarely, a pros pective owner inquiries in a cursory manner whether she will stay on the road or tries the brakes. looks at the lights, or does something of perfunctory nature. He doesn't all ways know enough about highway dangers and perhaps is afraid he will display his ignorance. If this is so. he takes what is offered him, on the statements made, well knowing that the average road performance
 of all cars is good enough and trust ing, as he has a right to do, that
 his particular selection will do what
 he war,s it to. Well enough. so far | as it goes. but he should do more | than that. For his own protection. to say nothing of others, he ought to know enough about these attributes of his purchase, which deal with safety on the highways, to decide in-