Traffic Accidents in Arizona

ARIZONA won distinction in 1934 for its activities relative to traffic safety in the form of a bronze plaque, presented by the National Safety Council. This is admirable in itself, but it has not stopped the ever increasing toll of lives along our streets and highways. Let us hope we are not resting on any laurels from last year's safety contests. As a matter of fact, the conditions in the other states must be pretty bad when Arizona can win first place in group three in the face of an increase of over 22 per cent in last year's accidents over the previous year. Last year Arizona was second only to Nevada in percentage of deaths to population and fourth in the United States in percentage of deaths to gasoline consumption, and our accident rate is increasing every day. Something should and must be done.

First, what causes most of these accidents? In 1934 over 45 per cent of the 212 deaths were caused from accidents in the "Non-collision" class, such as running off the road, blow-outs, etc. In other words, cars out of control from one cause or another. What causes a car to become uncontrollable? The driver, I would say, is responsible 90 per cent of the time. True, mechanical failure and tire failure may and do often cause the accident; but our records only show a small percentage in this class.

Now we have narrowed our case down to the driver. Why should he let his car get out of his control? In some cases he has been found to have been asleep. In many cases had been drinking. In other cases inattentive and, surmounting all these is speed. High speed in itself may not be dangerous, but very few people know how to handle it in combination with other factors, and therein lies the problem. It is like handling smokeless powder, which, by itself, can be burned like a piece of wood, but when combined with certain factors can drive a projectile through armor plate.

The human element being our problem and knowing that it can not be controlled, 100 per cent in any respect, we first must tackle the percentage which is controllable. In this I mean that, first, we do know from our police and other records some of those who are driving cars contrary to law. Second, those who are accident-prone drivers or repeaters. Third, those who may have physical defects which may lessen their ability in cases of emergency.

It does no good to any one when persons whose licenses have been suspended are allowed to continue driving cars. When found they should be jailed for contempt of court, although this may involve a change in the present law.

It does no good to compile statistics on accidents and, knowing who are habitual drunk drivers, speeders or accident-prone drivers, do nothing about it. Licenses should be suspended in full authority of the law.

We all have sympathy for a person handicapped with physical defects; but no driver's license should be issued to such a person until he is proven a capable driver.

One authority says that all accidents can be grouped around five per cent of the drivers. In other words, eliminate from the road the speedsters, drunks and fools and you eliminate most of the accidents.

I am thoroughly in accord with our Motor Vehicle Division in its drive to cancel all present drivers' permits and issue new ones only to competent drivers upon examination. I would even suggest the same thing for cars in that they shall be licensed each year only upon certificate showing safe brakes, lights, tires, rear-view mirror and horn. Some cities now require this inspection twice a year, the cars being marked with colored stickers.

Our records show that next highest to "Non-Collision" accidents comes the "Pedestrian" accidents. Pedestrians are even harder to control than drivers and 27 per cent of all traffic deaths last year were pedestrians. Most of these persons were walking or playing in the roadway which is provided only for vehicle traffic and not for pedestrians. We can and are in some cases providing walkways near towns to keep the pedestrian off the road. We may suggest to them through signs and other methods that they walk to the left, facing traffic. Children playing in the roadway are always a hazard and education of "safety first" for all concerned is necessary until community play fields are supervised continuously.

Our next highest death rate and the highest accident rate in Arizona comes under the class of "Collision with other Motor Vehicle" wherein 22 per cent of the deaths and 58 per cent of the 1,479 persons injured occurred last year. About one-third of these were angle collisions, at intersections of streets and roads. A recent traffic and accident report by the F. E. R. A. in Phoenix shows conclusively that more study should be given to our intersection