Evening star., 1935-02-17

year; and that despite the fact that
gasoline consumption was 3 per cent
and registrations almost 9 per cent
less than in 1881.
There is clue to the fundamental
weakness in the Nations driving
technique-and philosophy-in the
analysis of specific accident causes.
Driving too fast for conditions"
always the largest single accident fac
tor, widened its margin during the
year just closed. AS an example of
the extreme hazard produced by ex-
ceeding the reasonable speed require
ments of time and place, the rate of
deaths per accident because of ex-
ceeding the speed limit was 40 per
cent worse last Year than the average
of all accidents involving mistakes on
the part of the driver.
That intoxication is a two-edged
sword as it influences the traffic acci-
dent record is indicated il the dis
closure that more pedestrians than
motorists figured in accidents while
under the influence of intoXicantS.
OF pedestrians in mishaps, AT per
cent were declared to have been un-
der the influence of Intoxicating bev-
erages, while the percentage OF drivers
was but 3l6 per cent.
Intersection Holds Place.
The street intersection remains one
Of the cardinal points Of hazard, but
by no means the only one offering
serious danger to the unwary redes-
trian. Tragic Is the testimony which
shows that the rate of crossing street
intersections against signals to be "a
per cent greater than crossing with
the traffic lights, but so also is the
record which shows that the rate OF
death per pedestrian accident Is As
per cent worse crossing in the middle
of the block than at the intersection.
AS in the past, the aggregate record
Is more flattering to the automobile
than either to the motorist or the
pedestrian. 1t shows that out of
every 10 cars involved in accidents
apparently we're in good mechanical
condition. The figure becomes the
more strikingly significant when it
is realized that three out of every four
cars examined in State inspection
campaigns are found to be in inferior
condition. The implication Of the
report in this connection is that the
driver of the car in less than perfect
mechanical condition Is induced to
drive with a degree Of care that
transcends the performance Of the
motorist whose vehicle Is in excellent
shape.
The rate Of death per accident on
the open highway was more than
100 per cent greater than the average
for all accidents combined, the seri-
business Of such accidents being at
tributed to the rate of speed that
usually prevails. AS further indi-
cation that speed is a hazardous
factor, it is pointed out that the
rate of death per accident between
intersections was So per cent worse
than at intersections.
Week End Toll Heavy.
Accidents on Saturdays and Sum-
days resulted in out of every 10
deaths. The record was the worst
on Sundays, however, as the rate of
death per accident on that day
throughout the year was 18 per cent
in excess of the average. On Satur-
days the rate Of death was only 8
per cent more than the average.
A most serious aspect Of the auto
mobile accident problem that has
been in evidence a number Of years
and which continued serious last year
was the great number of fatal acci-
dents during periods of dusk and
darkness. During the year there was
not single one Of the IL normal
hours of darkness in which the rate
of death per accident was less than
during daytime hours. From am.
to 6 pm, the normal daytime hours,
there were 45e,510 automobile acci-
dents in which 15,050 persons were
killed, but from 6 pm. to 6 am, the
normal hours of darkness, there were
422, ,490 accidents in which 20,950 per-
sons were killed.
The rate Of death per accident was
61.4 per cent worse during hours Of
darkness than during hours Of day
light. On the basis of the night
time volume of traffic, which is only a
fifth Of all traffic, the rate Of death
during darkness was several hundred
per cent greater than in daylight.
During the four rush hours Of the
evenings, from to 8 o'clock, deaths
exceeded the record of the four rush
hours of to 10 in the mornings by
289 per cent. The hour just before
midnight was the most dangerous, as
the rate of death per accident for that
hour was the highest, IS per cent
greater than the average for all hours
combined. The hour between 10 and
IL am. was the least hazardous, as
the rate of death per accident was the
lowest, almost 80 per cent under the
average.
Excluding such factors as exposure
TO traffic hazards and miles driven,
the fatal accident experience Of man
drivers for the year was "a per cent
greater than for women.
With the exception Of drivers past
IS years Of age, where the fatal &C.
cident experience involves the greater
probability of an accident proving
serious, the accident record of drivers
under 18 years of age was the worse
Of any age classification. Under that
ace the fatal accident record was o.
Der cent greater than the average.
and between 10 and "a years it was
27 per cent greater. Between Is
and 81 years the ratio Of such drivers
In fatal accidents was II per cent
better than the average.
As an indication that drivers by
careful operation can prevent many
accidents, the fatal accident record
in rainy weather and when snow
was falling, was better last year than
the average for all accidents COM
bined. In clear weather, however,
the ratio of fatal accidents to total
accidents under such co.:..1A.tions was
worse than the average. On wet,
snowy and icy road surfaces the fatal
accident experience was better than
on dry road surfaces, thus supporting
the contention that many drivers
are put of their guard by apparently
safe conditions.
Detroit Busy on Record.
From Detroit comes word that au.
tomobile plants now are producing a1