Show The Annual Annual Toll While deaths from automobile accidents in the United States were about 13 per cent less last year than in 1931 the total was more than A total of more than were injured Several factors contributed to the lower casualty rate mate last year but to what extent each ach factor figured can not be he det determined Car registrations were about 8 per cent less and gasoline con con- consumption consumption was off ofT about 7 per cent con I indicating that less miles were traveled in 1931 But owin owing to fewer replace replace- replacements replacements replacements ments of old cars by new ones it itis itis itis is believed that more accidents may have resulted from median median- mechanical mechanical ical defects It seems then that the safety warnings and the cam of education which has been carried on by newspapers and safety councils have hada had a con eon considerable considerable effect A marked reduction reduction tion in the number of children un- un under under un under der 15 years ears old who were run rundown rundown rundown down in the streets is encouraging encouraging in ing Statistics show that the most dangerous drivers are arc these be- be between be between between tween the ages of 20 and 24 thou thou- thousands thousands thousands sands of whom paid with their lives for their foolish speeding and general recklessness Moro More Americans have been kill kill- kill kill- killed killed killed ed in automobile accidents in the thelast thelast llast last 15 years than were killed i ip all the wars in the history of the United States the total being or- or around ar around while the war toll I Iwas was only about dead 1 Tho deplorable thin thing about all this is is that at least 90 per cent of all automobile accidents might bo prevented by the exercise of o ordinary caution and common commonsense commonsense 1 sense on the part of the drivers driver i I land and pedestrians |