The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1936-01-30
Autos Kill 36,4OO
During Past Year
National Safety Council See.
Hope For Cut In 1896
Toll

lOll
,, WASHINGTON, January 20 =
Motor vehicle deaths reached a
new all-time high of 26,4OO during
1885, compared with 36,101 for the
previous year, the National Safety
Council reports.
Final months of the year wiped
out an anticipated decrease in IA
talities, but the council said the
increase in motor travel was 4.3
per cent greater, based on regis
tration for 1885 compared to
1884 The death rate per 100000
population was 2s5, the same as
in 1884. The increase in popula-
ton offset the slight advance in
fatalities.
The council points out that if
deaths had increased in proper
ton to motor car registration the
figures for last year would have
been 1880, and had fatalities kept
pace with gasoline consumption
there would have been more than
900 persons killed.
New England Leads East
Eastern states including New
England, made the best showing
compared with the previous year
by reducing fatal accidents per
cent. Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island led with decreases I'll
months figures of 10 per cent
and Is per cent, respectively. Out
standing improvement in the mid
western group Of states was shown
by North Dakota, Illinois and
Minnesota, with decreases of %,
IL and per cent. Florida and
Mississippi showed the most IA
vorable reductions in the south,
while in the west, Oregon, Utah,
Wyoming and Montana all showed
reductions of more than 10 per
cent.
Certain cities turned in out
standing safety performances. A
mong these was Milwaukee, which
finished the year with rate OF
only 112 deaths per 100000 popula
ton, the lowest of any city over
100000 population. Providence, r
T., in the group of cities from $780,
600 to 100000 population, had a
rate of only 7-about one-third the
average for all cities in it's group.
Hope Seen In Record
Although 1885 motor accidents
went slightly higher than the pre-
vious all-time high reached in 1884,
the years record is in some respects
more satisfactory, the council points
out.
From 1888 to 1884 motor vehicle
deaths increased Is per cent, where
as population advanced only 1 per
cent, car registration per cent,
and gasoline consumption Der
cent. In 1885 there was an increase
in fatalities of only per cent, just
equivalent to the advance in popu-
lation, while car registration in
creased 4 per cent and gasoline
consumption 6 per cent.
In the National Safety Councils
1886 campaign, 36,40O motor ve-
hicle fatalities will be taken as
par. A reduction of per cent
for the country -at-large will mean
an actual saving of 2,548 lives;
therefore, the aim is to reduce
deaths this year to at most 1882.
Argues Goal Is Possible
The records Of many cities and
states during the past year, the
council said, justifies the belief
that the goal can be attained. If
a dozen states can reduce their
fatalities from 7 to % per cent in
year when the national average
was going up, other states should
be able to effect substantial reduc-
tons by using the same intelligent
accident prevention methods.
Plans for five-year campaign
are based on the councils certain
belief that the tools" for accident
prevention are at hand and need
only to be put in use by all states,
counties and cities. Efforts will be
made to show delinquent states just
how Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Florida, Minnesota and others are
solving the problem. The methods
Of Milwaukee, Providence, Evanston
and other safe cities will be made
available to those municipalities
having bad records.
Officials of 43 states and the Dis
trict of Columbia have endorsed
the program and pledged coopera-
ton. Hundreds of cities also have
promised full participation in the
drive.