Evening star., 1934-07-01

BY full cooperation this
the duty of every one to unite i
Drunken Drivers Increase.
Drinking drivers involved in nom
fatal accidents have increased about
30 per cent during the first three
months of this year Of repeal over
the similar period of prohibition IN
1898, according to preliminary stud
les Just completed by the National
Safety Council. The fact that in
neither year was drinking a major
factor in traffic accidents, however
refutes the opinion held by many that
repeal is the chief cause of the IN
creased motor vehicle death toll this
year.
The council has studied certain
States. in which, during the first three
months of 1884, there were 38,4lO
drivers involved in non-fatal injury
accidents, compared with 35 ,658 drl-
vers IN such accidents during the first
three months of 1898. In these acci-
dents there were 691 had been drink
ing" drivers in 1884, compared with
491 in 1888. But, with nearly 5000
more drivers involved, there were only
200 more in the had been drinking
category. IntoXication was reported
for l 38 per cent of I'll drivers in 1888,
as compared with l.80 per cent this
year. Thus, the number who had
been drinking" increased 40 per cent,
but because the total number OF
drivers also increased the advance IN
percentages amounted to only 80 per
cent.
Small in Comparison.
In both years. it will be noted. the
number of drivers reported as had
been drinking" is very small in COM
parison with the total drivers in
volved in accidents. Although there
may be some tendency not to report
this item, the percentage of unre-
ported cases was probably about the
same each year and if the increase in
such accidents this year had been
much greater than indicated. liquor
would still be among the minor causes
of the increase in automobile acci-
dents
The general 1884 increase in acci-
dents, the council holds, is largely due
to increased motor vehicle travel with
out a proportionate increase in acci-
dent prevention effort by city and
State officials and by the drivers
themselves. Drunken driving is only
one of the many violations concern
ing which police departments should
tighten up enforcement.
A A. A. Advises Motorists.
When it comes to transportation o1
liquor in an automobile, even in tht
e states and the District of Columbls
now legally wet" the advice of tn,
American Automobile Association i!
"dcn't"
"Legalizing of liquors. wines anc
beers" said the A. A. A.. has not af.
fected the responsibility of motorists
for the safe operation of their cars
In case of an accident, the mere fact
that there is liquor in the automobile
might have a damaging effect on the
chances of the owner to avoid arrest OF
civil liability. And in the 20 States that
still have constitutional prohibition
statutory prohibition. or both, the reg
ul4tions governing the transportation
of intoXicants are most confusing anc
persons carrying liquors are liable tt
run. afoul of the dry laws"
simultaneously with its advice Il
motorists in connection with tht
transportation of liquors in the car
the national motoring body made pub
lie the results of a survey of the status
of the States with regard to prohibi'
ton
The highlights of this survey are:
The 20 States now legally wet
anu where regulations for the salt
and use of liquors are in effect or vii
be eefctive shortly, include: Arizona
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Del
aware Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ken
lucky. Louisiana. Maryland, Massa
chlsetts, Michigan, Minnesota. Miss
ouri. Montana Nevada, New Jersey
Ne, Mexico, New York, Ohio. oregon
PENNSYLVANIA, Rhode Island. Vermont
Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin
May Auto Sales.
Nav factory sales of automobile
manufactured in the United State
(including foreign assemblies from
parts made in the United States ant
reported as complete units or vehicles)
baseC on data reported to the Burea'
of the Census. consisted OF 33l "a
vehicles of which 273,765 were pas
senger cars, 57.876 trucks, as com
cared with 354,745 vehicles in April
214,s32 vehicles in May. 1888, ant
1896 vehicles in May, 1882.
Fer the fifth successive month tn
for Ar11nriPQn Q1ltn
motive products continued upward
shipments during April amounting t
o21.974,167, an increase OF S766,464
O.. 3.6 per cent, over the preceding
month and s14326,955 or 1877 per cen
above the figure recorded for April
1893, amounting to S7.6472l2. Auto
motive exports for the first fou
months of the current year have at
tainee, valuation of S67.96oo22. a
against S2S.060 OIL during the Jsnu
ar, April period of 1888. an lncreas
of s39. $50 ,451. ni 142 per cent. ;om
bined shipments of passenger cars ant
trucks durin, April amounted TO SIS
587.429, as compared with Sl2,849,84
in March and S2,935 ,293 for April o
last year.
Passenger car exports numbered
16,578 units, valued at s8,721,534, a
against 16,O79 units, worth S8,3O0,75'
ir March, with each price group ex
cept that of "over $4,000" showin
an improvement over the Marcl
figures. Belgium occupied the position
of leading market, followed by tn
Union of South Africa, Australia
Sweden and Japan, in the order given
he Union of South Africa. Argentina
Denmark and Mexico were the onl.
purchasers among the IS leading mar
kets for American passenger cars dur
ing the month whose demands wer'