Evening star., 1935-10-20
DRIVERS At FAULT,
SURVEY REVEALS
United Dry Force Warns
Use of Alcohol Is Traf-
fiC Hazard.

Calling attention to the increasing
numbers of automobile accidents
which are attributable to errors on
the part of the driver, rather than
to the condition of the car or the
highway, the United Dry Forces of the
District of Columbia today issued
warning that the use of alcohol by
drivers must be considered as major
traffic hazard
Despite safety campaigns waged in
Washington, where for the last f1ve
years $4,000 has been spent annually
for the installation and replacement
of traffic signals to make driving safe,
automobile accidents and fatalities
have increased" it is said in a state
ment prepared by Laura Lindley, re-
search secretary of the Anti-Saloon
League of America, and issued by
the United Dry Forces.
This is true throughout the coun-
try" the statement continued. "and
indications are that 1885 will surpass
even the unprecedented number of
$4,000 recorded in 1884.
Drivers at Fault.
"Back of the carelessness and speed
ing that have caused IS deaths and
over 1000 accidents in Washington
since January l, 1885, lie various
causes, human and mechanical. In
939 per cent of the accidents result
ing III death and injury in 1884, the
Travellers Insurance Co. reports that
the vehicles were in apparently good
condition. so the fault must have lain
with the driver.
"One item which is often overlooked
in rules for safe driving is that Of
abstaining from the use of alcoholic
liquors. On the same day that the
Census Bureau released statement
that automobile deaths in 1884 were
the highest on record, j. j. Pelley,
president of the Association of Ameri-
can Railroads, said, Not single rail-
road passenger was killed in a train
accident on steam railroads in the
United States in the first six months
of 1885, though the passenger traffic
was the largest since 1881. Rule G.,
an important railroad safety regula-
tion. which has much to do with Sc
curity on railways reads:
"The use of intoxicants by en-
ployes while on duty is prohibited.
Their habitual use, or frequenting of
places where they are sold, is suff1-
cient cause for dismissal.
No Rule For Drivers.
mo Rule G is in force for the driver
of the powerful engine of the auto
mobile. Instead, by advertising and
display of their wares, the 1,788 retail
licensed places in Washington solicit
the patronage of men, women and
youth.
THE danger in The use of alcoholic
liquors is shown by scientists who find
"a measurable loss of efficiency when
: as little as an ounce Of whisky is con-
sumed.' An ounce of whisky contains
a tablespoonful of alcoho' One pint
of 80 per cent beer contains slightly
more than that amount of alcohol.
The individual who consumes even
the so-called moderate amount Of
alcohol represented in a cocktail or
bottle of beer is uniting himself
for driving an automobile, because
alcohol slows reaction time, He may
not show visible signs of intoxication
and yet be a menace to himself and
others if he drives a car.
by no means are all the 'had-been-
drinking drivers arrested. or if some
are apprehended, the charge is often
speeding or reckless driving Yet
the police of Washington arrested on
charge of driving while drunk 423
during the calendar year 1923; 291 in
1929; 352 in 1890; 354 in 1881: 307 in
1882: BIT in 1898: 4O3 in 1894: and
238 during the first eight months of
1885.
During the calendar year 1884,
the first year of repeal, deaths from
automobile accidents reached the un-
precedented number of 1876. compared
with 81 in 1928; 81 in 1924; "a in
1925: 76 in 1926; "a in 1927; 83 in
1923; 81 IN 1929; II in 1880; IS in
1881; 1913 in 1882 and 80 in 1888.
Nineteen hundred and thirty-five has
seen special efforts made by the police
to reduce traffic accidents. and
thousands have pledged themselves
to safe driving in a safety campaign.
yet traffic deaths reported to October
IS are equal to or more than in eight
OF the past twelve years"