ACCIDENT SURVEY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 10

ACCIDENT SURVEY

AN AMERICAN DOCUMENT In a review of the Massachusetts Highway Accident Survey, just published in America, it is stated that this document throws new light on various phases of the problem of highway safety. It is a searching scientific study of the factors leading to accidents made throughout Massachusetts under direction of the Institute of Technology. Colonel Robert C. Eddy, director of the survey, had the co-operation of the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Public Works, as well as the assistance of large industrial and utility organisations, besides aid from the United States Government Itself of over 400,000 dollars. “In the studies of behaviour of cars on the road alone,” says the preface by Mr Elbert G. Allen, assisstant director, “over 2,500,000 cars were observed and their actions reported. The studies of accident records were discussed in separate reports to each town and city involved. About 200 of such reports were compiled and sent out to the municipalities.” The method of the survey was to study the driving habits of motorists at dangerous points throughout the State, both through stationary observers, posted at these points and through cruising cars manned by members of the survey personnel. Questionnaires were answered by 12,000 drivers. A chapter of the condensed report is devote to a study of motor vehicles by Professor Fales, which should prove helpful to motor-car buyers in the selection of their cars, and to manufacturers in their construction. Surveys of this character serve to take the chance out of motor-car operation by revealing the habits of drivers and faults of vehicles which lead to calamity. Survey experts were able to draw certain conclusions helpful to those who would improve their own driving, and that of others. “Although such accident figures as are available indicate that in approximately 90 per cent, of the accidents it is not the car but the driver who is responsible,” the report says, “it would seem desirable to consider the car itself and its effect in this connection.” Faults in Car Construction There follows a discussion of. the accident factor in car construction by Dr Fales, in which the following are among his findings:— In some of the newer cars with very > high and small windows, the effort needed to give proper hand signals is so great that the operator will tend to neglect them. It is believed that one of the outstanding developments needed is a satisfactory windshield defroster. Vee windshields have been used for many years and in the new cars are being used extensively. Vee windshields , offer several hazards to driving. In night driving, and in particular in rainy night driving, the reflections from the separate parts of the Vee windshield are confusing. “The sloping windshields give better upward vision, but before we can comsider that our traffic vision is satisfactory, we shall have to consider sloping the engine hoods downward towards the front of the car. "For the average operator it would seem that the instruments (dashboard) could well be replaced by telltale lights, as has been done on some cars. These signals warn the driver only when something is wrong, and the only instrument that he needs to watch is the speedometer. Building a car to be stable In cross winds is of more importance from the safety standpoint than true streamlining, as a motor vehicle has to have its wheels on the ground and does not always head directly into the wind. A cross wind of over 40 m.p.h. can make some of our lighter cars unsafe at speeds of over 50 m.p.h. In the case of an emergency stop from very high speeds, few brakes are either satisfactory or safe. The power plants in the paS two or three years have been developed to a point where accelerations and top speeds are far greater than the brakes, steering, and road-holding abilities can safely handle. Such inspection figures as are available indicate that the lights and brakes are the parts mogt frequently found in faulty condition. It is suggested that State inspections (required in Massachusetts), in most cases, are not thorough enough, as it is suspected that front ends in many old cars are in dangerous condition. The Twililght Hour One of the impressive facts brought out is that by far the majority of accidents occur during the twililght or dusk hours. Discussing the accident repeater, the report says:— "It is impossible to judge accurately of a driver’s proneness to accidents from his accident record alone! The poorer driver who has been fortunate enough not to have been placed in many accident situations cannot be distinguished by his accident record from the far better driver who has unhappily chanced to be confronted with circumstances in which .accidents are well-nigh unavoidable, ■ ’•if “It is impossible to prevent any considerable portions of accidents by withdrawing from the road those with