Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08

Californians, won't to brag about
the climate of their State from
far back as the days OF the
old missions, have never said
much about their traffic AFFAIRS.
THE reason for this Is somewhat
obvious. 1t has not been mucn
to boast of, at least In recent
times, regarding fatalities, which
have been high.
California Communicates.
It may be that people of Cali
fornia, because of so many ane
wonderful things, live too long,
that If 1t was not for careless
motoring there would not be room
enough for publicity fevered East
eFners to reside. This probably Is
not the reason, and at any rate q
deuarture from the States usual
reticence Is noted with the re-
ceipt of q communication recent
30 from the Department OF Public
Works, Division of Motor Vehi-
Giles, Sacramento, the State capi-
tai.
The contents Of the communica-
ton, which was sent to M. Q.
Eldridge. assistant director Of traf-
fic here, bring to light conditions
of some months past, but being
the first official statements from
that section they appear to be
worth perusing.
Motor vehicle deaths during
November, 1880, exceeded any
r1reviolls month in California mo-
toring history. The previous high
month, December, 1929, was ex-
ceeded by IS deaths in November,
1890, when 258 people were killed:
This represents an increase OF
2l.12 per cent in November, 1880,
over November, 1929, in the num-
Der of motor vehicle deaths.
The 258 motor vehicle deaths In
November brought the total OF
such deaths for the IL months OF
1880 to 2,143, an increase OF $50
per cent over the corresponding
period of 1929.
Comparative Increase Noted.
The per cent increase of Call
fornia motor vehicle deaths dur
ing the IL months of 1890 more
closely correspond, with the per
cent increase in gasoline conSump-
ton than with motor vehicle reg
istrationS. This SIlbStantiateS
claims of the Bureau of Research,
Statistics and Traffic Safety, that
death rates established on the
basis of gasoline consumption are
a better representation OF acct
dent hazards than rates based on
motor vehicle registrations.
The 233 fatal accidents in No
vember, in addition to causing the
death of 258 people, resulted in
injuries to IA persons. The total
injured in both fatal and nom
fatal accidents was 1898.
A total of 1927 drivers and
1887 vehicles were involved in the
3,036 accidents.
Pedestrian accidents increased
$50 per cent over November, 1929,
while the number Of pedestrians
killed increased 52.77 per cent and
those injured 2.4O per cent. This
is conclusive evidence that peaeS-
TRANS must exercise extreme pre-
caution for Self-preServation.
The greatest numerical increase
in accidents over November, 1929,
was in motor vehicle versus motor
vehicle accidents. Deaths in this
type increased only 1890 per cent.
One hundred and three I'M
licensed drivers were reported for
November, 1890. Seventy mine
drivers were from other States.
Among the causes OF accidents
violation Of right Of way" and
speeding" continued to cause the
most accidents among drivers,
while crossing intersections" and
"in street not at intersection" lead
the list Of pedestrian accidents.
Accidents, Peak Time.
The short days of November re-
flected in the summary OF acci-
dents, when more accidents oc-
Cured in darkness" than in
daylight" However, the peak
hour of accidents remained at
5-6 o'clock pm.
The number Of accidents occur
ring on the various days Of the
week were very evenly distributed
in November. Sundays were high,
with 592 accidents, and Saturdays
second, with 568. The other days
varied from 351 on Tuesdays to
1893 on Thursdays.
Only 282, or 9.28 per cent, Of
the November accidents occurred
while it was raining; che was re-
ported during a SnoWStoTm. The
majority 1898 per cent? Of
the. accidents occurred in clear
weather. Two accidents reported
occurred on "icy surface" and 1913
on slippery surface"
The youthful automobile driver
in California pays a heavy toll for
his ineXperience and reckleSSneSS.
Based upon motor vehicle acct
dent records covering a period OF
six months it has been found that
for each 100000 licensed drivers
between the ages of IA and 10
years, TIL will be involved in a
traffic accident where injury or
death to persons occur.
Youthful Driving Bad.
This amount is more than twice
as many accidents as occur to
drivers in correSpondingly older
age groups.
With such youthful drivers as
become involved in traffic acct
dents it is very difficult to select
outstanding features as cause OF
the accident. Accidents among
this group of drivers show a
greater variety of surprising
causes than accidents occurring
to these of older-age groups.
The immature youth Is just in
discreet and often does the most
irrational and unusual things in
his driving. Frequently, in his
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