The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-01-23
KILLED, $4,000; INJURED, sso,oool
(Times-Union)


injuries in automobile accidents in the
United States during the year 1888, killed,
$4,000; wounded, manned, disfigured,
500, 900 people; men, women and children; ;
old, and young, rich and poor! War, pesti-
lence and famine do little more, perhaps
not so much. And this during year when
because of the depression prevailing there
were thousands fewer cars on the streets
and highways. 1t is to find stories of
wrecks and killings every day, in almost
every newspaper. The careless, reckless,
needless drivers go on. There seems to be
no way to check the slaughter. The loss
of life compares disgracefully with the
figures for 1882. Then they were enor-
mOusly too great, there was no excuse for
the 20, 1876 fatal accidents of that year.
There is none for the last years record.
The Travellers Insurance Company
says that the upward trend in deaths from
automobile accidents was broken for the
first time in 1882; it was resumed in 1888.
beginning last June. The Travellers COM
putes the number of accidents at 75O. 900
and the number of persons injured at
nearly $4,000. "The gain in fatalities
per accident amounted to So per cent and
the number of injuries per accident in
creased 2.2 per cent, while deaths and in
Juries combined per accident increased "a
per cent. The gain in automobile accident
fatalities as well as injuries per accident
for last year occurred despite an indicated
drop of 1.6 per cent in the total number of
motor vehicles registered and decrease
of nearly 2 per cent in the consumption of
gasoline by motor vehicles
On the basis of available figures,
automobile accident fatalities increased
6.8 per cent in New England, So per cent
in the East South Central States, 28 per
cent in the West South Central States; 81
per cent Mountain States; % per cent,
South Atlantic and just under per cent for
the Pacific Coast States. Decreases were
only recorded in the Middle Atlantic
States where the drop in deaths was 81
per cent and in the East North Central
group of States where the decrease was 3.5
per cent
Looking into the causes of accidents
the Travellers finds that of all faulty driv-
ing by motorists that of operating too fast
for existing conditions was, as usual the
most hazardous. Almost One-third of
deaths due to faulty driving resulted from
speeding-going too fast; unmindful of
conditions. In regard to pedestrians killed
ene-fifth were making regular crossing;
nearly one-fourth were crossing between
intersections. Operating defective cars
bad brakes, no brakes other mechanical
troubles contributed to the wrecks and in
juries inflicted.
Florida's share in the awful record of
death and injury on highway and street
during the year just passed is most dis
creditable. But it can at least be claimed
that the South has smaller percentage of
the totals than some sections. Florida is
honestly, seriously, trying to reduce the
hazards of the highways and streets. 1t
has ample laws, and the campaign begun
last Fall for reduction of automobile
casualties in the State has ~probablyabeen
beneficial; but greater effort is evidently
needed to bring the drivers of cars to the
realization of what they are doing.
In Florida, where there are during a
great part of the year thousands of cars
from everywhere, driving about, not so
much on business as for pleasure, there
ought to be the fullest compliance with the
laws regarding speed, control of cars. and
general obedience to regulations made for
the safety of all who drive or walk