Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15
BLAME FOR TRAFFIC MISHAPS
PLACED UPON THE INDIVIDUAL
Improvement of Today's Automobiles and
Hig hways Leaves Accident Response
bility Up to Each Driver.

Note-The follo10tng are excerpts
from an address made by William A.
Van Duser, director OF the Depart
ment OF Traffic and Motor Vehicles,
deliucred last Tuesday over Radio
Station VOL.
II some great and unexpected ca
tastrophe suddenly should kill $4,000
people and seriously injure nearly q
million others in this great country OF
ours, every citizen would be shocked
and grieved Nothing in his power
would be left urdone to prevent another
such catastrophe. This is exactly
what happened on the pubic h:gi >
ways last year. But the catastrorhs
was distributed over a period Of /:
months throughout the United Sta; IS.
The automobile death curve Is CO..
tinuing upward In 1880 1900 more
people were killed on the public high
ways than in 1929. The number of
cidents has been increasing steadily.
In 1922 there were 10000 persons
killed, as compared with $4,000 last
year. Over so per cent of the fatali-
ties last year were pedestrians. many of
whom were responsible for accidents.
Time for Drastic Changes.
With such an annual toll on the
highways, such an increase In the death
rate of both motorists and pedestrians,
it is high time fer drastic changes and
sincere effort to stop this annual
harvest of deaths.
and deaths on the highways? Just
why does the United States lead all
other countries in highway accidents
and deaths? Let us review the causes
Of this annual destruction. In all
the accidents that caused the death OF
80 900 persons last year apparently one
or more of three things was at fault:
the motor vehicles, the highways or the
individuals involved in thte accidents.
Only few years ago many acct
dents could be traced to the automo-
bile: broken wheel, a bad steering
gear, poor brakes, motor trouble or
some other weakness Today this
cause OF accidents practically has been
overcome, Automobiles come from the
factory in perfect condition. An ac-
cident caused by a broken wheel or
poor steering gear practically is I'M
known. Motor vehicles are easy to
control, easy to steer and are equipped
with bountiful power and excellent
brakes. Statistics show that less than
five per cent of the accidents are due
to any mechanical weakness of the
machine.
This perfect condition Of the auto
mobile as 1t leaves the factory must be
maintained by the driver through pc
riodic inspections. He must see to 1t
that the brakes are well adjusted, that
the steering gear is in the best condi-
ton and that the headlights, horn
and mirror comply with the principles
Of safety. If the automobile is kept in
the same condition as received from the
factory, one OF the important causes
that contributes to accidents Is elm
mated.
Highway Development.
Our next major cause of highway
accidents is the highway itself. Only
few years ago many accidents result
ed from the poor condition of our high
ways. In general, the reads were mar
row and contained many sharp curves;
they were muddy in wet weather and
dusty in dry Weather. There were few
warning signs and practically no di-
rection signs. Large advertising signs
placed at intersections often created
a great hazard to traffic and caused
many accidents. Railroad grade eros
sings were unprotected and without
signals. The surface often was Slip
perry, inadequate and constructed with
out regard to the type or character Of
the traffic.
Recent years, however, have seen a
great improvement in the condition of
the highways. Engineer leaders in
State highway commissions, counties
and cities through research have de-
termined the reasons that caused or
contributed to accidents. Now high
ways are being constructed so that they
are ma longer a major cause of acct
dents. The engineers are now build
ing safety into the highways The
roads are now built for the comfort,
convenience, utility and safety of the
user. The alignment is being straight
ened Roads are wider, and the curves
are widened and banked so that reason
able speed may be maintained with
safety. TRAFFIC lanes for the guidance
of drivers divide the road, particularly
on curves and at the tops of steep hills.
Where the road follows a cliff or steep
bank. guard rail is erected to aid the
motorist and to protect him in case the
car gets out of control. Warning sig
mails are placed at points of danger.
Sight distances have been increased.
The interesting roads have been made
visible. Hedges and brush have been