Evening star., 1935-02-03

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creased auto travel. Gasoline con-
sumption, the best index of travel,
increased only about 7 per cent.
fThe increase in fatal accidents was
general throughout 1884; every month
showed a higher death total than the
corresponding month of 1888. The
first six months, however, were
especially disastrous, showing an In
crease of 81 per cent.
Rural Death Rate Up.
increases in motor vehicle deaths
were much greater in rural areas than
in the city. Pedestrian fatalities IN
creased less in 1884 than other types
of traffic accidents, but they still
average between go and 65 per cent
Of all motor vehicle deaths in cities.
In spite of general increases through
out the country, few cities showed
decreases in auto deaths. They were:
San Francisco, a drop of Is per cent
from 1893; Pittsburgh, 13 per cent;
Milwaukee, 8 per cent; New York, l
per cent. The only States which
showed reductions in 1884 were Della
ware, Kansas, New Hampshire, New
York and Oklahoma.
States with efficiently administered
drivers license laws had an increase
of only e.5 per cent in deaths as COM
pared with 1933-well below the ma
tional average of 1873 per cent.
In trying to ascertain the causes
of some of the Nations traffic ac-
cidents, the National Safety Council
has come to the conclusion that many
drivers are too long at the wheel.
Summary of Conclusions.
Accordingly, the study of exhaus-
ton and drowsiness is one of num-
Der of investigations made in every
State and the District of Columbia.
A summary of conclusions is as fol-
lows:
/. Many motor vehicle accidents oc-
cur because drivers fall asleep or
become so tired that they cannot
drive safely. Such accidents are much
more liable to cause death (particu-
larly of the driver and serious injury
or damage than the general run of
motor vehicle accidents.
2. "Fatigued" or asleep accidents
are more likely to occur to truck
drivers than to those of private pas
senger cars.
8. Drowsiness is often contributed
to and complicated by other factors,
especially alcohol and carbon mon
oxide.
4. Driving excessively long hours
is a common practice on American
highways; but starting trips after
considerable periods of wakefulness
(occ asioned by work or even by wait
ing) is equally important in produc-
ing dangerous fatigue.
S. Although AZ States and the District
of Columbia have laws or regulations
to limit the hours of duty for certain
classes of drivers, there are only a
few places where anything is done to
enforce such rules, and in many States
there is no attempt whatever at en-
forcement.
6. Violations of these rules are most
common and serious in long haul,
for-hire trucking, particularly among
drivers who own their own vehicles;
although fragrant offenSes often occur
in other types of trucking and are not
uncommon in some kinds OF bus
operations.
z. For purposes of safety legislation,
the total hours on duty, including
time for loading, unloading and wait
ing, are the important factors-not
merely the hours actually at the
wheel.
8. Dangerously long hours for pro-
fessional drivers can be avoided by
careful organization and planning, in
Guiding preparation for the busy sea-
son, good maintenance Of vehicles,
adjustment of schedules to permit re-
lays of drivers to handle long hauls,
and arrangement Of loading and un-
loading to avoid unnecessary waiting
by drivers.
g. Most of the well-run truck fleets,
particularly those in which manage
fnent Is actively interested in reduc-
ing accidents, and many of the indi-
vidual truck owners have already
adopted these safety measures volun-
-tarily, and the only effect enforced
legislation on hours Of duty will have
on them is to reduce competition from
: and chance of collision with trucks
, whose drivers are working dangerously
long hours.
General Recommendations.
Following the above conclusions
the following general recommenda-
tions were made:
/. The element of fatigue should
be given a more important place
on accident report forms used by
fleet owners, insurance companies,
States and cities. In addition to or
IN place of the usual items concerning
the driver, asleep and "fatigued,"
spaces should be provided for record
ing the number of hours during which
: the driver had been on the way prior
to the accident and the amount and
place Of sleep during the preceding
"A hours.
-s-r2. There Is urgent need for scientific
research to determine what effect
5 continuous driving, long hours with
q out sleep, and various mechanical
y aspects of vehicles have on fatigue
and to ascertain the recuperative val
ue Of various rest periods. Such re-
: search should also bring out, If posi-
: rble, what degree Of fatigue is danger
: o,ls and how different individuals vary
= IN susceptibility.
-.'o2 5. Companies operating vehicle
ff1eets, and individual truck owners,
should voluntarily organize their busi-
nesses to avoid excessively long hours
:, Of duty for drivers and thus to mimi
3' naize the number and cost Of acci-
- dents which inevitably result from
driving while excessively tired. Driv-
~ =. ers of private passenger cars should
also be brought to realize the danger
of driving when very tired or sleepy
--o~4. Every State should limit the
% hours on duty of all drivers except
! those of private passenger cars. Such
!, limitation should cover total working
~ and waiting time and not merely the
time spent at the wheel or on the
road. These laws should specify also
I! The amount and conditions OF rest
% required to interrupt such period
ON duty.
rs. There is need for agreement
= among the States as to what consti-
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