Evening star., 1934-03-04

AS44ODs
Practically two-thirds of the 756,5OO
personal injury accidents which oc-
CURED last year were due in some de-
gree to driving errors. Among these
exceeding the speed limit resulted in
the greatest number of deaths. Al
though the number of accidents from
this cause accounted for about one
fourth of all the mishaps which in
volved improper motoring practices,
the fatalities comprised approximately
one-third of all deaths resulting from
driving errors. Statistics show that
the rate of death per accident involv-
ing excessive speed was % per cent
greater than the average; operating
on the wrong side Of the road, 6 per
cent greater: passing standing street
car, nearly per cent greater; going
off roadways, So per cent greater, and
reckless driving, nearly 81 per cent
greater than the average.
Analysis of Pedestrians.
The analysis of actions of pedestri-
ans involved in accidents last year
shows that in many instances Pc
destrians took their own lives in their
hands. More than 800 were killed in
crossing intersections against signals
and 800 met death crossing intersec-
tions diagonally. More than $500
pedestrians were killed because OF
crossing streets between intersections,
and 1,460 met death dartlng out into
streets from behind parked cars, while
$3.50 were killed while walking along
rural highways. The figures show
also that 1850 children were killed
while playing in the street.
The experience of pedestrians shows
that the rate of death per automobile
pedestrian accident was % per cent
better at intersections than between
intersections and 25 per cent better
in crossing intersections with the sig
nal than against the signal. The most
dangerous thing that pedestrian can
do is to walk on a country highway,
as the rate of death per-pedestrain
accident on highways is nearly $50
per cent worse than the average death
rate for all automobile pedestrian COL
usions combined.
OF the total $4,000 persons killed in
automobile accidents last year, the
statistics developed show 1880 deaths
Of children under the age of 4, and
1920 deaths under the age of IA.
More than 41,OO0 children under the
age of were injured and nearly
10000 under the age Of IA. Under
the age of 4 the rate of death per in
jury last year was IL per cent greater
than the average for all ages COM
bined and in the ages of 65 years and
over 1t was 280 per cent worse.
In the 10-year period ending 1888
the number of persons killed in auto
mobile accidents, exclusive of motor
cycle mishaps, has totaled 273,112, of
which toll nearly 125, 900 have been
killed in the last four years. On the
basis Of this four-year record it is
estimated that in the remainder of
the present decade there will be near
ly 10000 fatalities, or a total for the
decade of around $4,000 killed, and
approximately 100000 persons in
jured. Thus in the 10-year period it
is pointed out that the number of
people killed by automobiles would
exceed Americas record of soldiers
killed during all the history of this
country, and would surpass the fatal
battle casualties of the American Ex-
peditionary Forces in the World War
more than six times. The number of
persons injured non-fatally from au-
tomobile accidents during the present
decade would exceed by more than so
times the A. E. F's record of soldiers
wounded non-fatally in action.
Effect of Speeds.
The serious effect which increasing
rates of speed are having upon the
trend Of deaths from automobile acci-
dents is shown in a study analyzing
last years experience on the basis
Of the location of mishaps. The rate
of death per accident between inter-
sections was 81 per cent worse than
at street intersections, and this differ
ence is attributed to the higher speeds
usually prevailing between intersec-
tionS. At rural intersections the rate
of death per accident was IA per
cent greater than at street intersec-
tions, and again the higher rate Of
speed prevailing on highways is cited
as the principal cause of the differ
ence. On highways the rate Of death
per accident last year was 118 per
cent greater than the average for all
accidents combined, and was 167 per
cent greater than the death rate be-
tween street intersections. On curves
the death rate per accident was 126
per cent greater than the average
and at railroad crossings the death
rate per accident was nearly 700 per
cent worse than the average for all
accidents ombined.
Last year $4,000 accidents which
occurred between street intersections
and at street intersections resulted
In 1890 deaths. Between rural in
tersections and on highways 139, $50
accidents resulted in 11,130 deaths
Thus 1t Is shown that the rate of
death per accident on the highways
was 219 per cent greater than on
city streets, and the relatively high
rates of speed maintained on high
ways are regarded as the main factor
in the greater severity Of rural acci-
dents.
During the 10-year period Of 1923
to 1882, inclusive, the death rate from
automobile accidents in this country
increased nearly 49 per cent. In ur-
ban territories, which include cities OF
10000 or more population, the rate OF
death increased only q per cent. In