Evening star., 1933-02-26
YEXT Saturday Is Inauguration
day. The city In all probability
NJ Will be thronged with visitors,

GAY. Lie City ia OIL pAoSoSAsAsS
viii be thronsea s!,.su, with uvxa visitors pr.
fore Motorists could well take
this time Of celebration As courtesy
days and show off the city to good
advantage.
Courtesy will mean careful orlvlng
ana consideration of other motorists
and pedestrians. 1t would be hne
thing for the guests Of the city to go
away and say that residents OF the
National Capital are hne and polite
drivers. Hospitality can exist on the
streets Of the city as well as IN the
homes.
Can Be Accomplished.
It can be accomplished If each mo-
torist will do his or her part. Try not
to be in q rush at intersections. Help
the other fellow. Be obliging about
giving information. While all Of us are
not on the inaugural committees we
can aid them by cooperation and the
exhibition of q spirit Of friendliness.
Washingtonians will be observed by
people from all over tho Nation. Let's
put on q good show on our own &C
count. Make the celebration period a
gala event-a safe one-and courte-
GUS one.
Special tratic regulations will be in
order during this period. Parking will
be much restricted. It is being done
for the benefit of the majority. Try to
obey the regulations. We don't want
tra6dc jams, and We can prevent them
If every one will do his share. Every
thing can be enjoyed just as much II
everybody plays the game fairly. The
police will have an arduous time in
handling the crowds. Let's make 1t as
easy for them as possible.
Condition Of Streets.
It Is dificult to know how many res
idents of this city realize the condition
OF our streets. When they are in bad
shape, one hears many complaints, but
when their condition is good, not many
boosts are heard. 1t is fact that the
streets Of Washington today are in the
best condition ever before accomplished.
This is true despite the rather severe
Winter that is gradually passing. 1t
happens at good time with the in
augural crowds on their way here.
Congratulations are in order for the
highway department of the District of
Columbia and all those connected with
it, Wise planning, careful selection Of
materials and proper maintenance have
made the thoroughfares look as they do
today. The city is indeed fortunate in
having the capable men it has in the
highway department.
Not only are the streets in splendid
condition, but it Is reliably understood
that proper management Of the high
way department has saved the District
of Columbia thousands Of dollars. What
more can be said?
puhljc Not Careful
The American public was not as
highways in 1882 as the decrease in
deaths from automobile accidents in
dicate. according to survey made by
one Of the Nations largest insurance
companies. Although the deaths num-
bered around $4,000 for the year as
compared with $500 for 1881. the
deaths and non-fatal accidents actually
increased per accident.
The decrease in deaths was not as
great as the percentage drop in acci-
dents. This fact Is brought out by the
detailed records Of important States.
Such combined experience shows for
1882 an increase of 1.s per cent in
leaths per accident, an increase of %
Der cent in injuries per accident,
nd an increase Of "a per cent
deaths and non-fstal injuries
combined per accident. Experience
n another group of States, the
records in some of which are not as
comprehensive as those used, show even
greater percentage increases per acci-
dent in deaths and non-fatal injuries.
Although cars during 1892 were not
II collision with other cars and pedes-
trians as frequently as in 1881 (because
there were not as many cars in use last
year as the year before) there can be
no doubt that the consequences of the
collisions which did occur were rela-
lively more serious.
Deaths for the year dropped by ap-
proximately 1875 per cent Uhe decrease
may change slightly when final NOR
tality reports become available some
months hence, while registrations and
gasoline consumption, on the basis Of
incomplete fgures. decreased around 8
and z per cent Sopectively. These last
two characteristics of the years auto
mobile accident experience were part
and parcel Of thu economic conditions
which existed. The decrease in acci-
dents was due largely to the force Of
the same conditions.
The differences in the percentages Of
decrease In deaths and registrations and
gasoline consumption cannot be ex-
planned by saying that the public used
the streets and highways more sensibly
The public had the opportunity during
1882 to parallel the automobile accident
experience of 1928, when the registra-
tionS were about the same as during
last year. But the loss of life in 1882
was about !. 400 in excess, or per cent
more than the number of fatalities in