Marion progress., 1948-12-09
Auto Accidents
For Past 9 Months
Show Increase


year, when sos persons were killed
Total accidents, however, jumped 28
per cent over the corresponding
period in 1947.
The report listed deaths by type
as follows: 176 persons died as a
result of motor vehicle collisions Ia
two per cent increase over last
year,; 121 were pedestrians fatally
struck while walking on streets or
highways Gan 18 per cent decrease
over last year); 116 persons were
killed when their vehicles ran off
roadways (32 per cent decrease
over last year,; 29 were fatally hit
while riding their bicycles (three
per cent increase over 194T; 20
were killed when their vehicles over
turned in roadways GO per cent in
crease over the same period last
year,; 18 died in motor-train col
lisions between motor vehicles and
animal drawn vehicles; six were
killed when their vehicles collieded
with fixed objects; II persons
were killed in other non-colllsion
accidents; and three died in miscel-
laneous accidents.
A total of 1892 vehicles were
involved in all accidents. Of these,
$50 were defective, with bad brakes
alone causing 446 accidents, nine
of which were fatal, killing one or
more person per accident. Fifty
five accidents were caused by We
hicles with mo headlights two of
these proved to be fatal accidents.
Steering mechanism Detective was
listed as a direct cause of 128 acci-
dents, six of them fatal. Twenty
five accidents, two of them fatal,
We're caused by vehicles with no
rear lights.
The fatality report showed that
80 per cent of all traffic deaths oc-
Cured in rural areas, while the re-
naming 18 per cent took place in
cities and towns. A total of $50
accidents, killing 416 persons and
injuring 4,O91 others, occurred on
rural highways. In cities and towns,
there were 4,453 accidents, with 92
deaths and 1862 injuries.
More persons between the ages
of 25 and "a were involved in ac-
cidents than any other group, and
more commercial drivers were in
volved than any other occupational
group of drivers. In lat, more farm
ers were involved. Commercial driv-
ers include chauffeurs, bus, taxi,
truck and tractor drivers, and de-
livery men.
Of the 1892 drivers involved in
all accidents, 10,849 were guilty of
violating a traffic regulation. Speed
! ing led in causes of fatal accidents,
with 1922 drivers exceeding the
stated speed limit; 155 were speed
ing when their cars crashed, killing
one or more persons. A total of
'}2,5O4 drivers were driving on the
wrong side of the road, causing &C
cidents. Of these, 81 were fatal
crashes, killing one or more person
per accident. Three hundred and
seventy-seven drivers were guilty of
hit-and-run, with nine of them caus-
ing ia al accidents. Fortyseven
drivers were obviously drunk when
they were involved in fatal acci-
dents.
The report showed that the ma
iority of accidents-9,2 ,296-oc-
Cured on straight level roads, with
no curves or hills to mar the drivers
vision.
Saturday remained the most un-
safe day of the week as far as acci-
dents were concerned, and Tuesday
proved to be the safest day fol
travel. More accidents occurred be-
tween the hours of S and p. m
than at any other time of day OF
night.
Of the total 121 pedestrians
killed in traffic, many of h m
through their own carelessness,
walked straight to their deaths
Thirty-four were killed and 20 9th
ers injured while crossing rura
highways, many of them obviously
wi t h ut looking. Fourteen were
killed and 2O3 injured by failing tc
cross streets at intersections; si1
were killed while lying in roadways
drunk. The report struck 6 tragic
( note in reporting that 19 children
were killed and 38 others injured
while playing in roadways.
During the first nine months o1
this year, Cumberland county ha:
led the State with FL fatalities, a:
/ compared with 27 for the 81 m
period last year. Wake and Guilfort
4 reported IS deaths each this year
During the same period last year
Wake had 26 and Guilford IA.