The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-20
Carelessness Basis Of Accidents
 Annual Statistical Bulletin Analyzes Mihaps of Men


 Hartford, April 1S-"Carelessness in doing those things which are particularly dangerous on modern highways was the underlying reas- on for the 1881 accident record in Connecticut with it's 4S2 deaths. 1n- juries to 12,903 persons and a total of 17,0S1 accidents" says the annual statistical bulletin of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles which was ready for dis tribution today.
 Although the fatality record was the worst in the states his- tory, an increase over 1880 of 16 per cent, the statistics show there was a betterment otherwise in a decrease of 13 per cent in all acci- dents and reduction of per cent in the number of persons injured.
 Twelve per cent of all cars in- volved in accidents within Con- necticut last year were owned and operated by residents of other states. This was an increase of about 2 per cent. Out-of-state driv- CTS were the only ones to set up an increase in accidents. There were 3.632 out-of-state cars in accidents last year. as compared to 3,557 in 1880, while the number of Connec- ticut registered cars involved was reduced by IS per cent.
 .sThe 1892 bulletin. which con- : tains a detailed comparison of ac- cident date and a review of the departmentalacc accomplishments dur ing the year, is more complete than former editions and includes several additional tables of comparative statistics. One new feature is a pc- torial contrast of the automobile as . problem in the state in 1921 and as it had become in 1881. with growth in registrations from Ill., 019 to 363.3S6. an increased gaso- line consumptions from 73,404.S11 gallons to 236,399,661 gallons and an increase in accidents of nearly 10000.
 "Inattention, failure to grant right of way. operating on the wrong side of the road. skidding and speeding were the major im- mediate causes of accidents in which operators were at fault dur ing 1931," the bulletin says. De tailed analysis of the accidents under these classifications shows that clements of carelessness or apparently deliberate recklnessness were present. Among the things causing increased numbers of ac- cidents were 'hogging the road following other vehicles too closely, cutting in and out, passing on wrong side of vehicles, passing at intersections and inefficient brakes.
 "Intoxication of pedestrians in- creased as a contributing cause of accidents last year. although drunk en operators were less frequently involved. Both children and adults were responsible for an increase in the number of accidents where persons playing in the street were hurt. A larger number of children were hit by cars while crossing the street last year because of fali- ure to pay attention to traffic. In- juries following carelessness in getting into and out of cars and attempts to steal rides were more frequent, also. than in 1930."
 Automobiles collided with 3,333 pedestrians during the past year, decrease of 76 over the 1880 rec ord and these accident, caused 255 deaths. 52 per cent of all persons killed having been pedestrians. the figures in the bulletin show.
 There is contained also in this years booklet a table comparing the records of men and women as operators, new feature. There were 7S,660 women and s33. .s97 men licensed to drive in 1881.
 Less than 4 per cent of those motor vehicle operators who were haled into court last year had their cases dismissed after trials. There were All persons sent to jail of the 25,274 before courts and 10,371 were fined. Jail terms ran to a total of 22,440 days. an in crease of more than 12,000 days. Of those sent to jail 213 were those who had been found guilty of driv- ing while under the influence of in toxicating liquor.
 .srhe results of accidents to chill dren were more severe than in 1930,r the bulletin says. Seventy compared to 56 in the previous ing in traffic was the major cause whom responsibility for the acci- 4EAt AAAA60t UC 0ttiAOoeCas w AitC the general results were worse than in: 1880. the principal causes were much the same--inattention. step- ping from behind objects before looking, playing in the street. careless coasting and stealing rides.
 .More than half of all accidents occurred at street Intersections. more than half in daylight, and about three-fourths in clear wealth. CT. Saturdays and Sundays were the days and July and october the months when accidents were most numerous. The hour from 10 c D. 1n., as fin other years. continued fo be that in which most accidents occurred.
 "There was adecrease for nearly all of the various types of motor Vsil.sIcs in the number involved in acci5epts. Contrary to experience 10 ether yoars the porceniaRe of dccrenec for passenger cars In nc- cIdcnts Nas greater .han that for commercial motor vehicles.