Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

reporting. In these cities in this
four-week period the total num-
Der of deaths from automobile
accidents was 614, but only 515
of these were due to accidents
within city limits.
Speed Not to Blame.
Recent comment in this column
that speed limits might be lifted
brought forth criticism from a
reader who declared that speeding
was the cause of many accidents.
A magazine clipping written by
some student of the highways was
attached in confirmation.
There is no question that in
many cases accidents were caused
by what appeared to be excessive
speed. Many ANALYSTS, however,
claim that in such cases it was
recklesSness, and not speed, as the
real cause. Any speed at times
can be reckless driving, whether
it be 10 miles an hour under the
existing limit or over. If reckless
ness is not the word to be applied
at such timeS-for the word reCk-
leSSneSs implies Willful disregard
the word carelesSneSS might be
substituted.
Speed itself, or per Sc, as some
would have it, has been blamed
for more evils than it deserves.
Care of Tires Needed.
An interesting account entitled
Another Act of Providence Shown
Up" comes to hand regarding
recent court decision.
Proof of the superiority of the
modern tire over those Of more
ancient vintage was seen by E. E.
Dearth, tire company manager,
in a recent decision handed down
by the State Supreme Court of
Washington, in which judgment
in a damage suit involving an
automobile accident caused by
the blowout of a worn tire was
awarded to the plaintiff on the
grounds that the motoriSt of to-
day is fully responsible for his
equipment and that blowout is
not an act Of Providence when
the tire is badly worn.
Previous decisions in such cases
have held that a blowout is not
chargeable to the motorist," said
Mr.. Dearth. This newest de-
ciSion which awards damages to
parties injured in accidents caused
by tire bloWoutS was based on
expert testimony tending to show
that bloWouts do not occur except
under conditions which are rec
ognizable and comfortable. This
only serves to emphasize the vital
necessity for frequent eXamina-
tons Of tires to be sure they are
not getting too close to the dan
gerous 'bald-headed' stage.
Motorists will do we'll to give
this serious consideration be-
cause the precedent established
by this court decision is very apt
to be confirmed in other States
as quickly as similar cases come
to trial.
CAS- one editorial writer has said,
Right now American motorists as
a class are riding on four poten-
tial blowoutS, with one to spare. "
Auto Industry News.
Prospects for strong Spring
showing in the automobile in
dustry were confirmed by Feb
ruary production figures and by
wired reports from all sections of
the country on retail sales as re-
ported by the board of directors of
the National Automobile Chamber
of Commerce at their recent meet
ing in New York.
The up-curve in motor car out
put was continued unbroken dur
ing February, with a total esti-
mated production Of 230,364 units
an increase of 90 per cent over
the output for the preceding
month.
February production was the
highest Of the last six months and
continued the up-curve which was
inaugurated in December.
Retail sales reports from leading
motor markets throughout the
United States, except where snow
fell last week, was almost unani-
nous in rejecting prospects for a
continued increase in sales during
the next two months, with used
car markets more active than
usual.