Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
BY THOMAS p. HENRY,


President American Automobile Association.
A canvass Of the causes of the pyra-
miding of motor vehicle fatalities and
accidents during the months of october,
November and December has been ar
ranged by the National Conference on
Street and Highway Safety. Based on
the experience of the American Autonno-
bile Association, which is one Of the
sponsor organizations of the National
Conference, I am outlining in this
article my views as to some of the causes
and ways and means for combating this
increase.
The rise In motor fatalities during
this three-month period over the past
few years is to large extent responsible
for the annual increase in the total
number of highway fatalities. II we
could but analyze the factors under
lying this seasonal phenomenon, sepa-
rate the causes for the periodic sharp
rise and focus public attention on these
causes, / believe we would be well on the
road toward controlling the situation.
The causes themselves are on the whole
well known and they are in every in
stance susceptible to common-sense
remedies.
Present Serious Trend.
Before going into the factors In
volved, let me cite some figures to show
the present serious trend of the sea-
sonal curve The number of highway
fatalities in october of 1929 was g.
$40. October of 1880 recorded 1920,
or an increase of so deaths for one
month over the corresponding month
of the previous year. November Of 1929
showed 3,170 fatalities, as compared
with $3.50 for November Of 1880, or
an increase of 40. December OF 1929
showed 1852 fatalities, as compared
with $3.50 in December OF 1880, or an
increase of 658.
Summarized, the last three months
of 1880 resulted in LAB more street
and highway fatalities than the last
three months of 1929, or an increase OF
IL per cent as compared with an in
crease of 4 per cent for the year 1880
as a whole over the year 1929. In the
face of these figures it is clear that no
argument is necessary to demonstrate
the need for special attention to the
problem of these bad months.
To Avoid misunderstanding.
In order to avoid misunderstanding
it should be stated that the most i'm
portant factor in seasonal increases IN
highway accidentS-namely, increased
use of the motor vehicle as reflected In
gasoline consumption-haS no bearing
on this October, November and Deem
Der situation, since gasoline consump-
ton Is much higher during other
months, such as July, for instance
which normally shows lower proper
ton of accidents. The average gasoline
consumption for the month OF July foi
the three years 1928, 1929 and 1880
was 1,505, $4,000 gallons. The average
consumption for November for the
three years was 1924, 100000. In other
words, the gasoline consumption fol
November averaged 1855 per cent less
than the gasoline consumption for July
/ Looking at the accident records fol
these respective months, the reverse Is
shown. The average number OF fatali-
ties for July over the three-year period
was 2,736, as compared with an average
of 3,217, or an average increase OF
17.58 per cent, for November, as COM
pared with July.
What. then, are the causes of the
bad record of october. November ano
December? Our analysis over a period
Of years has clearly demonstrated that
a large part of the large crop of acct
dents during this period arises out OF
the fact that neither the motorists nor
the pedestrians make sufficient allow
aIlCe IOT JIlc pcCu1ldE COtlNAIAOLAo Va tlAc
Fall and early Winter season.
Results Of Skidding.
There are, for example, thousands OF
accidents due to skiddtng, which in the
main result from the failure Of the car
owners to take precautions against the
covering of fallen leaves that often
carpet country roads, suburban lanes
and city streets during this season of
the year The average driver does not
realize that a carpet of leaves, damp
with dew underneath, is as dangerous