The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-10-09
AUTOMOBILE FATALITIES
LAST YEAR

an increase of 1,246 over the prrvious
year. According to figures complied
by the National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety, the 81, 254 fatali-
ties in 1929 represented 92.7 per cent
of the total number of traffic fatali-
ties, or gain of 11.8 per cent over
1928. From 1920 to 1880, inclusive
motor vehicle fatalities showed an
increase of lao per cent.
Accidental deaths from all causes
reached SO, 258 in the United States
in 1929, an increase of 1872 per cent
over 1920. In that year motor We
hicles accounted for 1876 per cent of
the total fatalities, while in 1929 the
per cent of motor vehicle fatalities
climbed to 31.8 per cent of the total
number of accidental deaths from all
causes.
The problem of motor vehicle ia
talities, expanding as it has with
each succeeding year, has outgrow n
a solution by any single agency. The
support of every city, state and group
must be obtained if the trend is to
be turned in safer direction. Indi-
'vidnal responsibility among motor
vehicle operators can do more in
curbing the driving hazards than all
organized efforts combined. Reg
ulation for education and enforce
ment along safety lines will help
considerably, but individual respon-
sibility must be awakened if the
grave problem is to be definitely
solved.
Until negligence is forced off the
road the number of fatal accidents
will remain far too high for the safe
ty of careful motorists. The worst
of the situation does not lie in the
risks the chance-taking drivers run,
but the dangers they create for law
abiding, careful motorists and pedes-
TRANS. Too often the latter groups
are victims of negligence of the care
less lot.
Rigid enforcement of traffic laws
and regulations, and punishment of
violators is being urged by the ma
tional conference on street and high
way safety. Driving tests, examina-
tons and license requirements also
are strongly advocated by the con-
ference. It is the opinion of the
conference that driver who cannot
demonstrate he is competent and fit
to handle motor vehicle with a
reasonable degree of safety should
not be allowed to enter the public
streets or highways. Punishment of
drivers not conforming with safety
measures will help materially in the
solution of the problem.
If the drivers license measure of
the conference should be adopt
by acts of legislation by all States,
the nations street and highway
traffic would gain most important
protection against the careless and
reckless drivers whose presence
endangers both pedestrians and
other motor vehicle operators.
Statistics reveal that more than so
per cent of all motor vehicle acct
dents occur at street intersections.
Such information is evidence of the
negligent drivers general disr egard
for danger zones. The crossing of
streets between intersections is list
ed in the statistical report of the con-
ference as the second most prod uc-
tive cause of motor vehicle fatalities.
Play in the streets among children
ranks third, according to the report.
Due to the safety measures in
schools, improved police protection
in many cities, and caution signs, the
increase in child fatalities from mo-
tor vehicle accidents has been less
than in adult fatalities from the
same cause. The number of acct
dental deaths among children in this
country, however, is still far too
great. Between 1922 and 1928 the
total motor vehicle fatalities increas-
ed 1922 per cent, but child fatalities
(under Is years of age) increased
only 229 per cent, while adult fatal
tiles increased 1863 per cent.