Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS JOIN
CAMPAIGN FOR GREATER SAFETY
URGE Enactment of Uniform Vehicle Code
By States That Have Not
Already Done So.

Of human life Is approximately one
quarter Of the total number of Ameri-
cans killed or dying from all causes
in the World War campaign Of 10
months Four times as many people
were injured in automobile accidents
last year as American soldiers were
wounded In the World War.
1.-THE total of $4,000 motor vehicle
accident deaths in 1880 compares with
approximately $4,000 deaths In indus
trial accidents in the same period. In
1929 deaths in autombile accidents to-
tailed 81 ,215, which was ,485 less than
in 1880. So the evil is growing. Statistics
show motor vehicle mileage decreased
in this country In 1880 at least 15,00O,-
100000 miles, or around 10 per cent.
The number Of accidents increased
around IL per cent, deaths more than
4 per cent, and injured toll IS per cent.
Does this indicate that the American
people are awake and doing something
to control this cruel traffic?
Nine out Of every ten Of the 1880
persons killed last year were victims
Of drivers who had more than Q years
per cent out Of every 100 fatalities
involved driver over the age Of L.
Drivers between the ages of Is and "A
last year figured In more than 80 per
cent Of the accidents in which persons
were killed and in about onefourth
of the mishaps resulting in injuries
Operators between the ages Of IS and 81
figured in nearly so per cent of the
fatal accidents and In approximately
seven out Of every ten Of the nom
fatal mishaps, and IN 4 per cent Of the
mishaps producing injuries.
Accident Statistics.
Records indicate that men were be-
hind the wheel in % out Of every 100
cars in accidents, with women being the
drivers In the remaining 2. While these
figures may or may not indicate the
ratio Of men TO women drivers, male
drivers were behind the wheel in "a per
cent OF the cars in fatal accidents and
women in the remaining per cent. I" 4"
The direction of travel was straight
ahead in more than IS per cent OF the
fatal accidents and In 70 per cent Of
the non-fatal accidents. More persons
were killed and injured in 1eft-hand
turns Of cars than in right hand turns.
The backing Of cars was responsible
for IA deaths out Of every 1000, and II
injured out Of every 1000.
II wish I might tell you how many
accidents were caused last year by
reason Of booze, petting, star gazing,
day-dreaming, back-Seat driving, smart
Alex show-oh, racing and undue privi-
lege by reason Of political pull, but such
matters are not for insurance actuaries
though they must be large in the aggre-
gate Of death and destruction. Most
Of the States in this enlightened Union
permit anybody TO drive In any old kind
Of movable Junk at sweet will, If and
when q few taxes are paid. There
Is a type Of public onicial and citizen
so deeply committed to the profit motive
that he thinks that to control motor
traffic might hurt business, but the
wisest heads Of the automobile industry
realize that the annual toll Of death
and injury is the worst advertisement
the motor car can possibly have. Some
accidents may be unavoidable, but the
unutterable sacrifice of 81, 500 lives and
injury Of nearly 100000 in q single
year shrieks to heaven for relief"