The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-03-07
Many Smash Hits
of 1882 Were Not
Viewed on Sfuqe
Highway Accident Death
Toll Is 32.l00 For Last
Twelve Months

Hartford Conn.-Many of the most
dramatic smash hits of 1889 were not
viewed on the stage or screen but on
the highway, according to the tenth
annual safety booklet just issued by
The Travellers Insurance Company.
The booklet, entitled "Smash Hts"
records pictorially and graphically the
facts about accidents in which 32,1O
persons were killed and almost mil
lion and quarter others were in
jured last year.
"America's street and highway sys-
tenn is a vast stage on which is being
presented the longest and most lavish
procession in history" the foreword
states. "ln pageant of such magni-
tude there are bound to be mistakes,
usually caused by some actor who be-
comes confused or forgets his part. In
the great spectacle as a whole these
Interruptions are scarcely noticed, but
to those who by accident or indiscre
tion become involved, these unre-
hearsed by-plays often assume the
proportions of a major tragedy"
Automobile Accidents Analysed
Highlights from the annual report,
based on official records of the 48
states, include the following interest
ing facts:
Exceeding the speed limit was re-
sponsible for 36.5 per cent of the ia
talities and 22.5 per cent of the in
juries in 1889.
Nearly 40 per cent Of all traffic ac
cident victims were pedestrians.
Almost 81 per cent of the fatal acci
dents occurred in clear weather and
almost 80 per cent happened when the
road surface was dry.
More than SO per cent of the drivers
involved in fatal accidents were male
and less than seven per cent female.
More persons were killed on Sunday
than on any other day of the week,
while the heaviest injury toll came on
Saturday. Wednesday was the safest
day for travel. The period between 7
p. m. and p. m. was the most dam
gerous hour of the day.
The motor vehicle death rate, based
on mileage, is at least three times as
high by night as by day.
Pedestrian Dangers Stressed
The report views with growing con-
Germ the increase in automobile-pedes-
trian accidents, particularly in metro
politan areas at night, and devotes an
entire section to the problems of the
man on foot. One graphic illustration
shows that while man takes one step
and advances one yard, an automobile
being driven at 80 miles an hour ad-
vances nine yards. Another shows
that pedestrian in dark clothing is
all but invisible to the driver at night
mere 100 feet away but is clearly
visible in light clothing up to 200 feet
or more.
Failure on the part of both drivers
and pedestrians to appreciate these
and many other facts was largely re-
sponsible for the record of 12,470
pedestrians killed and almost 100000
injured in 1889, the report states.
Many Special Features
Special features in the booklet in
clude statistics and editorials on such
phases of traffic safety as truck pass
enger car accidents, compulsory motor
vehicle inspection plans, night driving,
and an article by DR.. George Gallup
on male VS.. female drivers.
The insurance company will dis
tribute two and one half million copies
of the booklet this year in the inter-
est of highway safety. Single copies
or quantities are available through
the company or any of it's representa-
tives.