"SAFETY FIRST"

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 121, 22 May 1920, Page 2

"SAFETY FIRST"

A CAMPAIGN AGAINST.CARELESSNESS. When the City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) was in" Detroit (U.S.A.) great interest was being taken in a "safety first" campaign. Mr.. Morton states that Detroit in 1912 had a. population of about SCG,COO. It is now reputed to contain close upon a million people, it being generally stated that the population had doubled within the past eight or nine years. "This is all due to the establishment of a great number of motor-factories., nearly all of the bsstknown makes of American cars being .manufactured in this city. Detroit, is unquestionably the centre of this par-, iiculai industry in the United States of America. An enormous use is consequently made of motor vehicles, and ths accidents have been so. numerous during the past few years that a very keen interest is being taken in the work of those who are carrying on the "safety nrst" campaign. Outside the City Hall was displayed a large sign, giving the numfiot* of accidents that had occurred the previous year, and the monthly return for the current year. In 1915 there were 5000 street accidents and 192 deaths, whilst tup to tho end of April, 1919, 252 street accidents had occurred with 24 deaths. It was generally recognised that such accidents were the result of carelessness. Great care was being exercised by the police at all street intersections. Crossing places were indicated by white lines painted on the asphalt •surfaces, and safety zones were created in the principal streets. In addition there were numerous streets in which vehicle traffic was allowed in one: direction only, and this iav.- was being itriclly administered. This practice, i?, however, fairly genet eral iv all the cities of the States.'-.