Evening star., 1936-03-29

tionwide N. B. c. hook-up for the pro-
gram has been arranged from 1880 to
2 pm, Eastern standard time. The
Governors of the prize winning States
and the mayors Of the winning cities
will be invited to participate in the
New York program and will speak over
the network. John B. Kennedy, ma
tionally known news and editorial
commentator, whose voice is familiar
to millions Of radio listeners, will act
as toastmaster and make the official
presentation of the plaques. An out
standing leader Of the automobile
manufacturing world will conclude the
program.
The purpose of the national traffic
safety contest is to bring recognition
to American municipalities for con-
structive achievements in overcoming
their traffic problems. Results Of the
first four contests have proved def
initely that the spur of competition
actually means the saving of life. The
average death rate Of cities competing
in the contest Is we'll below that OF
the Nation as whole.
The fifth contest for 1896, already
under way, gives every promise Of
having more than 1000 municipalities
entered in the competition.
The United States is not the only
place where traffic problems are being
treated seriously. England has its
flve-year plan.
The most exhaustive analysis of
road accidents ever made in Great
Britain will be begun April in a new
crusade to increase public safety, &C
cording to an Associated Press report
from London.
II will be the latest step in a cam
paign to decrease accidents, which,
Leslie Hore Belisha, minister of trans
port, told the House of Commons,
caused more than 2.5O0, 900 casualties
In the reign Of the late King George.
This figure, he said, is comparable
with the aggregate of all killed and
wounded in the forces of the United
Kingdom In the Great War"
The bustling Hore Belisha. whose
campaign already has met with some
success, announced the forthcoming
analysis would involve study of about
100000 separate occurrences through
out the country.
Every road accident involving either
death or injury will be analyzed in a
search for the causes and possible
remedies.
The study will be embarked upon as
the result OF similar study under
taken last year on four thoroughfares
in London known as black spots"
+ AS a consequence of remedies ap-
pied from this study, accidents on
these thoroughfares decreased 14s per
cent, fatalities have fallen 53.5 Der
cent and serious injuries by 32.4 per
cent in comparative six month periods.
Hore Belisha, in pushing his drive,
pointed out that Great Britain has
become the most densely vehicled
country in the world The number
OF motor vehicles registered per square
mile in Great Britain is %; in the
United States it is -
Besides the new nation wide study.
the British government has launched
five-year road construction program
which, the minister of transport said,
is by far the largest and most COM
prehensive effort made by any gov
ernment.'
Works approved for commencement
in the current financial year in Eng
land are estimated to cost f22, SOC, 900
approximately s11!,500, ,0o0) - three
and one-half times the figure at the
corresponding period last year.
In place of narrow. winding, hedge
lined roads, the highway authorities
propose, where the traffic is great
enough, to have trunk roads contain
ing two lanes for traffic in each di-
rection, in addition to foot paths, a
path for cyclists and accomodati ton
for horse riders.
Under the five-year program, the
highway authorities have already
made proposals for 230 miles of cycle
tracks and 750 miles of dual, or four
lane, roads.
Investigations are also proceeding to
reduce skidding. A new type Of thin
carpet has been introduced which the
minister of transport said seems to
meet the case
Among other measures, Hore Belisha
said he is trying to persuade highway
authorities to install guard rails at
busy intersections. while anti-dazzle
regulations are proposed.
Hore Belisha, who created pedestrian
crossings throughout the country
marked by black and white striped
poles surmounted with orange globes,
which have become known as "Belisha
beacons,' claims success for his idea.
Comparing 1888, he said, in which
there were no pedestrian crossings in
London, with 1885, pedestrian fatali-
ties dropped "a per cent.
Already in the first eight weeks of
1896, compared with the same period
in 1885 before the beacons were
adopted by the country as q whole,
pedestrian fatalities have been reduced
24l2 per cent.
Driving tests have heen introduced