15,000 KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 238, 8 October 1935, Page 18

15,000 KILLED.

300,000 INJURED.

AMERICAN ACCIDENTS.

FIGURES FOR SIX MONTHS

DETROIT, August 20.

Highway safety lias become a paramount issue in American motoring. Automobile manufacturers and allied branches of the industry are engaged in nation-wide effort to make all who drive motor cars safety conscious. ,

Iu spite of the general effort that has been made to cut down casualties by building more safety equipment into cars, fatal accidents and mishaps from various causes continue at a high rate for the country as a. whole. Preliminary estimates for the first six months of 1035 indicate approximately 15,000 fatalities and injury of 300.000 persons. During 1934, according to the National Safeiy Council, 30.000 lives were lost. This pointed to 145 deaths for every 100,000 cars in operation.

Consequently the corporate and national welfare interests arc concentrating driver education or in reality, re-education, because in many instances it lias been shown that it is the longexperienced type of driver who needs it more than the younger generation. Earlier in the year, the Automobile Manufacturers' Association arranged for a national survey that was to cover every phase of the situation. At the same time, the National Safety Council has been expanding its educational efforts. One firm has sponsored a Hollywoodproduced motion picture that analyses causes of accidents that happen with split-second quickness on streets and highways. Another firm is conducting a campaign which is enlisting thousands

of dealers for this cause. Three insurance companies continue to compile statistics and circulate anti-accident propaganda. Taught In Schools. Typical of State campaigns is that of the Automobile Club of Michigan, which has had highway safety listed among teaching subjeets'in 4000 schools. Twelve States this year have enacted new laws calling for non-shatter glass in all cars after January 1 next. They are: Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Vermont, Connecticut, Indiana, N irginia, Missouri, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and California. Nine other States, including New \ork. lowa, New Jersey, Deloware, North Dakota, Maryland, Nebraska, Pcnnslyvania, and Michigan, have such laws now in force.

Because motorists are driving faster and therefore "outdriving" headlight beams, Pennsylvania lias a new law that compels * adjustment of lighting equipment so that objects can he revealed 350 feet ahead instead of 200 feet as previously.

Printed cards summarising safety rules for vacation drivers of cars to observe are being distributed by the American Automobile Association with the usual maps and tour books.

More efficient braking of loaded trucks and trailers of the highways is one of the chief remedies needed for existing conditions, according to Athel F. Denliam, an engineering writer, who has made a recent investigation. He cites from a survey made by an organisation which has replaced original equipment brakes on fleets of vehicles. This report says that there is hardly a. truck or trailer built to-day that is equipped with brakes which are completely adequate and safe under all conditions, and satisfactorily free of the necessity for continuous service attention.