The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-03-02
| ID ULLEIN
|DOARD.....
By Ulysses w. Boykin

life. limbs. and injuries are due 10 automobile accl-
dents we are dedicating this weeks column TO speed
versus accidents. Early last week We interviewed
Fred w. Juergens, Director OF lrafhc anc mira
Deputy Commissioner OF the Police Department.
THE importance OF the speed OF vehicles cannot
he stressed enough" Dire ctor Juergens said
when you look over the reports for 1889 and
find that excessive speed caused sxy-four fatal acct
dents two thousand eighty accidents and three
thousand eight hundred and hfty-one non-njury
accidents, total OF five thousand nine hundred and
nnety-fve accidents In all
"'The month OF January OF this year has not
improved this record. AT least sixteen drivers were
driving at an excessive OF speed in the twenty
eight deaths that occurred this past month. In fact
five OF these drivers lost absolute control Of their
vehicles struck a safety zone; another drove
the curb ard struck utility poles causing a
death to each driver
Our speed limit in the city OF Detroit is twenty
FIVE miles per hour in business. residential park and
boulevard sections This is the speed that is Judged
to be the fastest speed at which drive in
safety. Al this speed we should he able 10 have our
under complete control al all times When We
exceed this speed, are challenging the laws OF
physics and the natural laws governing the opera
ton OF motor vehicle
"Of course we only limit the speed al twenty
five miles per hour as before mentioned that is the
fastest safe speed but many times II Is necessary
that our speed be reduced 10 much less than that
in fact there times when even ten miles per hour
s too fast for conditions
our physical limitations governed by con-
ditions or the roadway. Wet pavement increases our
stopping distance double that of stopping on dry
pavement Snowy pavement requires four times the
distance and icy pavement multiplies the stopping
distance by eight
at is quite evident that drivers know something
Of these limitations because when the pavement is
snowy or icy. our accidents reduced 10 The small
est possible minimum" Director Juergens contin-
ues. certainly II drivers know this. then they should
he able 10 control their vehicle at proper speeds I'M
der ideal conditions But that doesn't seem 10 be the
case because when pavements are ideal when wealth
er is clear. our accidents increase"
"Now will 20 into tho natural laws govern
ing speed. No one acts instantly. II takes a certain
amount OF time after emergency arises for even
the most experienced driver TO perceive the dagger
and transmit the impulse to stop to the brakirg
mechanism OF the car The time this requires varies
with the individual driver. depending upon whether
the driver Is alert or faieued An alert driver will
react within re-eighs to three quarters Of second
while fatigucd driver will take as much as full
second. What does that mean in travelling distance
OF a car?
Let US compare the various speeds Al twenty
miles per hour we require eighteen feet actual stop
ping distance. When we double speed 10 forty
miles per hour. actual stopping distance is
seventytwo feet In other words when we double orr
speed our stopping distance is four times as great
"Our reaction distance has to be added to that
When travelling at twenty miles per hour. we pro-
coed at the rate OF twentynine feet per second and
our reaction time OF three-quarters Of a second or
twenty-five feet, makes total stopping distance Of
forty feet At forty miles per hour the reaction dis
lance IL forty-four feet plus the braking distance
OF seventytwo feet and Il takes our car one hundred
and sixteen feet to come complete stop or prac-
tically four times the distance required AT twerty
miles per hour'
III drivers would realize their limitations while
driving and obey traffic ordinance then we could
look forward 10 a comfortable reduction in traffic
accidents
Yes. there are places in the city whore a speod
greater than twenty or Nv enty-fve miles per hour
is safe You will find these areas posted with signs
and for your safety they should be obeyed" Direc-
tor Juergens said
might driving is especially dangerous because
many drivers travel at speeds that do not permit
them To stop within the seeing range OF their head
lights. Pedestrians crossing the street are extreme
ly difficult to discern when wearing dark clothes
that blends with the shadows Of the street These
things should he remembered by the driver who
wants 10 make up little time by darling down
some narrow street Al speed that will neither pcr-
init him to stop avoid striking someone or some
thing that might suddenly appear on the roadway
ahead"
Many signs are now being placed al lnterscc-
tions. These signs reduce the speed to that which
permits safe crossing OF that intersection when
TO hfteer miles hour that the safest sneed n,
which you can bring your vehicle 10 a stop should
another vehicle appear the cross street All these
thngs have been figured out by our engineers and
should be rigidy and religouslv obeyed II YOU we're
seriously III and doctor prescribed something that
would cure YOU certainly you would do as instruct
cd Then in this matter OF traffic when your doctor
the engineer who plans these things posts speed