How Can We Decrease Number of Deaths in Car Accidents? Sept. 28, 1924

Because Hurricane Helene could cause a power outage, I’m posting this article a day early.

Sacrifice to the Motor

Twenty-three persons met death in automobile smash-ups during the month of August, according to information received by the Carolina Motor Club from F.M. Register, of the bureau of vital statistics, Raleigh. The material was compiled by Dr. Register in response to a request from C.W. Roberts, vice-president and general manager of the club to be used in a bulletin being prepared on automobile wrecks in this state. To August 30, 1924, 136 persons had met death in this manner. This is not inclusive of grade-crossing deaths. In 1924, there were 249 deaths from smash-ups.

Exact figures on accidents are not to be obtained, state Mr. Roberts, but these figures on deaths come from the bureau of vital statistics and are truly authentic. Thus far in 1924, 136 people have been killed by accidents occurring between automobiles and other objects, exclusive of railroad trains. It is a reasonable estimate that only 10 percent of the serious accidents resulted in a death, and if 136 people represent only 10 percent, this would give us 1,360 automobile smash-ups during the first part of this year.

While every automobile wreck is not fatal, says Mr. Roberts, it is noted that practically every collision between a railroad train and a car kills one or more occupants of the car. It rarely ever affects the train. Safety first, as a slogan, is truly important, but it must be put into operation.

In the entire country, according to Insurance Press, more than 16,000 lives were lost in automobile accidents, exclusive of grade crossings casualties, during the year 1923. That, no doubt, is a greater toll than taken by several of the more dreaded diseases. Medical science with millions of dollars at its command is waging earnest and successful warfare against the ravages of disease, but other than spasmodic agitation in certain quarters, there is very little done to decrease the heavy toll of human life exacted by the automobile. Preservation of health constitutes one of the principal features of all state, county and city government programs. Yet little attention is given to preventing automobile casualties. The automobile takes nearly as heavy a toll as war. We hold conferences against war; great societies and organizations adopt resolutions against war. Peace is a great political issue, and in every campaign it plays a leading part. But the automobile, almost as destructive as war, more so than many diseases, is permitted to take its toll without concerted molestation on the part of any organization of governmental significance. We seem to take it for granted that the automobile is entitled to much human sacrifice. We look upon it as some sort of a god needing to be appeased with offerings of human life, most of us hoping that we won’t be the next sacrificial victim, but realizing that there will be victims a-plenty. When the people wake up to the enormous wastage of human life due to the automobile, then some action will be taken to put a halt to it.

From page 4, the editorial page of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday September 28, 1924. W.N. Keener, Editor.

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020730/1924-09-28/ed-1/seq-4/#words=SEPTEMBER+28%2C+1924