Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-04-14

As reported in bulletin of the Ma
tional Safety Council. ultimately the
taxpayer profits from adequately IL
Illuminated highways A comparison
of the cost of proper lighting with the
benefits it brings-including the saw
ing of life, money and property
demonstrates the saving to the tax
payer. who, in the final analysis,
must pay the bill.
33.S03 Jersey Accidents.
I'm New Jersey last year." Mr.. Vey
points out, there were recorded 3d.
803 accidents, which caused 1,l85
deaths, and more than $4,000 personal
injuries OF these accidents, A per
cent of the total and SIS per cent of
the deaths occurred on highways at
night, or during such times when
traffic was approximately 20 per cent
of the 24-hour total. These per-
centages closely parallel the expert
ence for the Nation as a whole on
the basis of National Safety Council
figures. Thus it can be readily de-
termined that night accidents
throughout the country occur upon
the highway approximately four times
more frequently than day accidents"
Mr.. Vey presented figures to show
that daylight accidents are more prev
alent when weather and road condi-
tions are favorable than night acct
dents, while under unfavorable weather
and road conditions, such as during
fog, rain or snow, or during times
when pavements are wet, snowy or
icy. the reverse is true. In other
words" he said, 'unfavorable weather
and pavement conditions further &C
centuate the hazards of night
driving"
From a detailed analysis of acct
dent experience for the year 1888 along
one of New Jerseys most travelled
highways he presented figures to the
effect that there were 1,l02 accidents,
sos per cent of which occurred dur
ing the hours of darkness.
"Of the 1,l02 accidents" he con-
tinued, '65 caused fatalities. of which
63.4 per cent occurred at night. OF
the non-fatal accidents, which con-
cerned slightly more than one-half
of the total accidents, SO per cent
occurred during the hours of dark
ness, and of the property damage
accidents, which amounted to slightly
more than one-third of the total
ass per cent occurred during hours
Of darkness.
"Of the various types of accidents
which occurred at or between inter
sections, 70 per cent involved vehicles
approaching at right angles; 442 per
cent involved vehicles going the same
direction-either rear end, cutting in
or side-swipe collisions; 1913 involved
vehicles going in opposite direction,
S.3 per cent involved collisions with
pedestrians, 1872 per cent involved
miscellaneous accidents or accidents
concerning which complete report
was not made in order that they might
be classified"
During Darkness.
From these facts and others, Mr.
Vey indicated. lit may be determined
that along this stretch of highway
protected at major intersections by
either grade separations, traffic circles
or traffic signals-approximately one
half of the total accidents and more
than one-half of the fatal accidents
occurred during hours of darkness.
Although few street lights are
provided at isolated points and at a
few intersections, it may be said that
this stretch of highway falls into the
category of unlighted roadways. A
comparison of day and night acct
dents. by types, between this unlighted
stretch of highway and continuation
Of it that is lighted to a degree COM
parable to the recommendations of
Illuminating engineers has been made
For example" he said, along this
unlighted stretch it was found that
accidents which occurred during times
OF more or less congestion upon the
highway, such as right-angle COL
GSions, collisions between vehicles 60
ing In opposite directions-where one
vehicle was making left turn-and
miscellaneous accidents, we're more
prevalent during hours of daylight,
but that other types of collisions,
which might have occurred because
OF insufficient visibility, such as same
direction accidents (most of which
are rear-end collisions, head-on COL
lisions and pedestrian accidents, oc-
CURED more frequently during hours
OF darkness. In percentage, it was
found that for these three latter types
OF accident there was an increase of
night over day accidents equaling 8
per cent, 10 per cent and u per cent,
respectively.
ut was found that along the I'M
lighted stretch 1876 of the same
direction accidents concerned rear
end collisions. of which 95, or 50 per
cent, occurred during hours of dark
ness, while along the lighted stretch
20 Of the same direction accidents
were recorded as rear-end collisions,
Of which 8, or only 20 per cent, &C.
Cured at night"
Pedestrians Involved.
A survey of accidents involving
pedestrians walking on or along road
ways during 1888 also was made in
New Jersey. This study determined
that there were 459 such accidents
last year." Mr.. Vey said, "of which
II per cent occurred at night. Of the
$50 accidents, 100 caused fatalities,
Of which SO, or S5.4 per cent, occurred
during hours OF darkness and $50 con-
cerned injuries, of which 1888, or 65.5
per cent. occurred during hours of
darkness.
Even when pedestrians were walk
ing properly on or along roadways-
that is, on the left side of highway
facing approaching traff1c-there was
q greater prevalence Of night acct
dents" he added. For example. of
the pedestrians killed or injured while
walking on or along the roadway
properly. SGT per cent occurred at
night OF those walking improperly
or or along roadway, IS per cent oc-
CURED at night"
Portions of State Highway Routes
No. Is and No. Is have been surveyed
IN New Jersey. in order to determine
the effect of highway lighting under
all conditions. One of the sections
studied Is properly lighted with up-to-
date equipment and the other has
practically no lighting whatever, ex-