Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-02-21
AN INEVITABLE RECORD

The worst automobile accident toll
ever experienced in the United States,
according to figures compiled by an
insurance company, was recorded last
year when $4,000 persons we're killed
and nearly a million injured as a
result of $4,000 personal injury col
lisions on streets and highways. AL
though two-thirds Of the accidents in
volved driving errors, pedestrians
paid the highest price in the loss of
life as shown by the death Of nearly
$1,000, or A per cent OF the total
fatalities.
According to the records this ire
mendous death and injury toll was
not due solely to an increase in the
use of motor vehicles. Death gained
Is per cent as against an increase
of between five and six per cent in
registrations and six per cent in gas
oline consumption.
Too much speed for time and place
is cited as the dominant factor in
the greater seriousness Of automobile
accidents last year. AS an example
of the extreme hazard produced by
driving too fast, the rate Of death per
accident because of exceeding the
speed limit was 40 per cent worse
last year than the average of all ac-
cidents involving driving errors.
Available records for the year show
that 3.16 per cent Of the drivers in
accidents were declared to have been
under the influence of intoxicants as
crease of one-third. The available
records also show that 4.47 per cent
of the pedestrians in accidents were
declared to have been under the in
fluence of intoxicants as against 2.99
per cent in 1888, an increase Of 49.5
per cent. Five out Of every eight
pedestrians killed. were involved in
accidents while crossing streets in
the middle of the block, crossing in
tersections against signals or dag
onally, darting out into streets from
behind parked cars, or while walking
along rural highways.
Despite figures indicating that nine
out Of ten cars involved in accidents
were apparently in good condition.
three out Of every four cars examined
in inspections were found to be in
poor or bad mechanical condition. Ac-
cording to the inspections, 90 per
cent of the cars required brake re-
placements or adjustments. tires were
in only fair or poor condition on Sc
per cent and lamps required replace
ment or adjustments I'm So per cent
of the cars.
personal injury automobile accidents
occurred at street intersections. by
far the largest number Of deaths re-
suited from accidents that happened
on highways. Accidents on Satur-
days and Sundays resulted I'm four out
of every ten deaths. The record was
the worst on Sundays. however. as the
rate Of death per accident on that day
throughout the year was IS per cent
in excess Of the average.
A most serious aspect Of the auto
mobile accident problem that has
ItSH III tNluClSC vi year
and which continued to be bad last
year was the great number of fatal
accidents during periods OF dusk and
darkness. During the year there was
not a single one of the 10 normal
hours Of darkness in which the rate
OF death per accident was less than
during daytime hours. From a. m.
to 6 p. m. the normal daytime hours.
there were 459.510 automobile acct
dents in which 5000 persons were
killed. but from 6 .. m to 6 a. m.
the normal hours of darkness. there
were 422.490 accidents in which 90
$50 persons were killed The rate Of
death per accident was 51.4 per cent
worse during hours Of darkness than
during hours OF daylight. On the
basis of the night time volume Of
traffic. which is only fifth Of all traf-
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