Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12
THE fact that the traffic NOR
tally lists are increasing
opa COG to he Y1pwS r. would


- be news if a decrease were
shown. However, the figures,
morbid as they may be, are of in
terest.
At least, the knowledge of how
many people are being killed every
week may in time so arouse
motorists and pedestrians alike
that extra care may be used to
fight this evil. 1t would seem that
all the necessary regulations have
been adopted in this fight. There
fore, 1t is up to the people them
be noted in the States that still
fore licensing drivers.
A Poor Third.
The National Capital is still a
poor third on the honor roll of
large cities having the lowest traf-
fic fatality percentages. For the
So weeks ending March 81, 1881,
based on 100000 population,
WaShington'S percentage was I'll.
This figure compares with lat for
the same period the year preced-
ing. These fatalities occurred
within city limits.
Of the largest cities Baltimore
holds first place, with a percentage
of'143, compared with 15.4 a year
before. Boston is in second place,
with 145, compared with 1876 a
year ago. Unlike the National
Capital, these two cities are not
only holding their own. but are
showing still further improvement.
New York has a percentage of
1874, against 1875 year previous
~. Philadelphia is 1872, against
20y6, and Chicago 24.5, against 1913,
National Figures.
The Department of Commerce
announces that during the four
weeks ending March 81, 1881, 81
large cities in the United States
reported 602 deaths from automo-
bile accidents. This number (602)
compares with 585 deaths during
the four weeks ending March %,
1880. Most of these deaths were
the result of accidents which oc-
CURED within the corporate limits
of the city, although some acct
dents occurred outside Of the city
limits.
For comparison, the number of
deaths due to automobile accidents
within city limits is desirable.
Such figures are available for the
four week period ending March
81, 1881, and for the corresponding
four-week period of 1880 for all of
the 81 cities, the four week figure
in 1881 being 500, as contrasted
with 494 for r. corresponding
four weeks in
Considering b week peri
DDS since Janu 1929, total
deaths from automU lie accidents
for 81 cities, regardless of place
of accident, the lowest total (471
appears for the four-week period
ending February %, 1929, and the
highest $500 for the four-week
period ending November 2, 1929
The number of deaths reported for
each of the 90 four-week periods
since January 26, 1929, follows:
For the 52-Week periods ending
March 81, 1881, and March %,
1880, the totals for the 81 cities
were, respectively, 1886 and 8,718,-
which indicate recent rate of
25.7 per 100000 population, as
against an earlier rate of 25.5, or
an increase of two-tenthS of
per cent in the rate during the
year.
Six cities reported no deaths
from automobile accidents for the
last four weeks and the same
number Of cities reported no
deaths from automobile accidents
for the corresponding period Of
1880.
For the last four-week period
reports as to whether deaths oc-
CURED from automobile accidents
within city limits or outside were
received from all of the 81 cities
reporting. In these cities in this
four-week period, the total num-
Der Of deaths from automobile &C
cidents was 602, but only 500 of
these were due to accidents with
In city limits.
Junking of Old Cars.
Official 1880 motor vehicle reg
iStration figures Just released by
the Government point to a new
record in the junking of old cars,
Alfred Reeves, general manager of
the National Automobile Chamber
OF Commerce, stated in his report
recently to directors Of the or
ganization
THE figures show that last
year 2,925, 900 motor vehicles were
Junked as a result of the normal
wearing out of cars and of the
special junking plan of the man
ufacturerS with their dealers, un-
Ger which 100000 additional vehi-
cles Of unsafe character have
been eliminated from the high
ways" Mr.. Reeves declared.
Manufacturers representing more
than 81 per cent Of the industry's
production are now cooperating
with their dealers in a program
under which the dealer is partially
compensated for a certain num-
Der Of unsafe cars which he may
junk rather than undertake to re-
sell after trade-in.
The total registration Of cars on
December 81 was 23,042,340, as
against % ,121 500 for 1928 de-
crease in cars registered of 1919
units. Trucks registered were
3,480, 939-an increase of 101 OBS
units over the previous year.
The total vehicle registration at
the end of 1880 was 26, 523,679 cars
and trucks, an increase of only
22,336 units over the previous
year. Comparison of these regis
tration figures with the estimated
domestic consumption of 1880
motor vehicle output indicates an
unprecedented junking activity
for the year.