Evening star., 1936-04-12


compared with the corresponding
period of 1885.
while it is too early to make pre-
dictions or to take trends for granted,
1t now appears entirely feasible to
reduce motor fatalities and serious
injuries by some to 10 per cent this
year." Thomas P. Henry, president
Of the A. A. A. declares.
"Unquestionably," Mr. Henry adds.
"the reduction Is to some extent due
to the fact that the very severe
weather experienced throughout the
country materially curtailed motor
vehicle mileage and gasoline con-
sumption and to that extent affected
the exposure of accidents. On the
other hand. there are evidence OF
greater care on the part of drivers
and pedestrians in whose hands the
solution of the problem ultimately
rests.
The safety program launched early
in the year by large national organiza-
tions and vigorously supported by the
automotive industry. has already be-
come factor in the situation and
has assured a greater degree of CO.
ordination of effort than ever before.
1t will prove particularly effective
in the spreading Of safety education
and in the strengthening Of enforce
ment machinery.
1.-The real test of what can be sc-
complished to cut the toll OF motor &C.
cidents will come in the SiX-month
period, April l to September 80, the
period Of greatest car use and heaviest
travel. We expect motor touring this
season to exceed even the volume OF
last year. Every motorist, and par
ticularly those contemplating extensive
tours, should bear in mind that many
of the main roads have suffered serious
damage in recent months, while others
have foregone proper maintenance be-
cause of the sidetracking Of motor-tax
revenues to other than road purposes.
This condition calls for reasonable
speeds, a minimum Of night driving
and proper planning of tours"
X 4
Production of automobiles and
trucks in the United States for the
week ending Saturday. April IL, is es-
timated at 10000 units, as compared
with 106.230 in the week ended April
4, by the current issue OF Automottve
Daily News. The complete February
sales figures reported in the same issue
show IT'S ,668 passenger cars and 40,301
commercial cars and trucks. This
compares with 170,6l5 passenger cars
and 34,797 trucks in February, 1885.
March sales are estimated at 100000
cars and 41,000 trucks.
The demand for cars. says Automo-
tive Daily News, rose sharply in March
as shown by the fact that Chevrolet
set a new all-time record for any
month in its history. Retail sales by
Chevrolet dealers in the United States
totaled 1876 119 new passenger cars and
trucks against the previous monthly
record of 122,437, made in May 1928.
Chevrolet also enjoyed the highest first
quarter in its history, with total Of
272,149 deliveries, a gain of 1888
over the first quarter of 1885, and
topping the previous best first quarter
OF 248,875, which was made in 1929.
Used-car sales by Chevrolet dealers
also set new high mark. with total
for March of 165,170. bringing the
quarter to 481 1884, which was also a
record quarter.
Buick reports March deliveries at
15,O57. against 6,577 in February,
pickup of approximately 1913 per cent,
and 1870 per cent better than the 6,534
units delivered in March year ago.
The independent manufacturers are
getting a greater share of the sales
and production, Automotive Daily
News reports, with Hudson turning out
close to 1000 units week, Stude-
bakers output for the current week
being 2,2l5; Nash building 1850 and
Graham climbing from $40 to $40;
Packard also is operating on the high
est schedule of the company, and
hopes to produce 5000 units before
April is ended.
The second quarter outlook Is con-
sidered most favorably. with produc-
tion depending largely on the contin-
uation Of demand from the field.
Floods in the East and tornadoes in
the South are expected to have only
q temporary effect on new-car de-
mand. with the market in the affected
areas expected to be stimulated by the
demand for requirements and rehabil-
itation work.
Affirmation by the District Of Co.
lumbia Court of Appeals Of deci-
sion of the Municipal Court award
ing full legal damages claimed by
Louis Salem, whose automobile was
stolen from a Washington parking
lot, is declared by George E. Keneipp,
manager Of the Keystone Automobile
Club of Washington, to be one of
the most important recent victories
won by motorists in this city. The
appellate courts decisisn was rem
dered in denying petition for writ
of error entered by the defendant, the
Service Parking Corp.
with the decision OF the lower
court now definitely upheld" said Mr..
Keneipp, "a clean-cut precedent has
been established for the protection
of motorists who park their cars on
parking lots"
The case involved car owned by
Salem, Keystone member. While in
GIlc ChEc vi lklC DCA WIG al SiIA6 wi r.
it was stolen and demolished when
the joyrider who took it crashed. The
parking lot operator refused to make
any compensation, contending all pos
sible precautions had been taken to
prevent theft. keystone then retained
counsel, who convinced the courts
that not enough employees were on the
lot to assure the security of the car.
Instructions to the jury by Judge
Armand w. Scott emphasized that II
the jury found the lot operator had
been negligent damages were in or
der. This view the appellate court
sustained.
Factory sales of automobiles manu-
factured in the United States (includ-
Ing foreign assemblies from parts |