ANALYSIS OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

OCTOBER, 1932 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS 11 Motor Vehicle Division Analysis of Motor Vehicle Accidents In Arizona For April, May, June, 1932

The second quarter of 1932 shows a material increase in the number of reported accidents received by the Arizona Highway Department over the first quarter. This is due mostly to the increased co-operation of peace officers over the state. The Highway Patrol has made this co-operation possible through personal contacts with other police agencies. It is impossible to say just what percentage of the total traffic accidents in the state are reported here, but the second quarter shows an increase of about 62% over the first quarter. The accidents reported involving only property damage of under $50.00 are not considered in these reports.

In these days preceding election, when everyone is being told what he can do for his country and what it is America needs, every good citizen can start a little campaign of his own as a candidate as a noaccident driver.

You can cast a vote for safety every time you sit down behind the wheel of your car. If enough candidates of the noaccident driver party are successful in getting votes for safety, thousands of lives can be saved in America during the next twelve months.

Why not get on the bandwagon in this worthwhile movement? Do your bit to check the peace-time war which is slaughtering more than 33,000 Americans each year. Toss your hat in the ring and start a one-man campaign which will assure you of a clear conscience when the motor vehicle death totals are figured up at the end of the year.

The total accidents tabulated for this quarter were 407 and involved 679 motor vehicles. Twenty-five persons were killed in 24 of these accidents and 283 were injured in 178 accidents. Two hundred and five (205) reports show damage of $50.00 or more without personal injury.

Out of 32 reported pedestrian accidents there were 10 deaths and 23 injuries. It so happens that these 10 pedestrian deaths are 40% of all fatalities reported, whereas, the 23 pedestrians injured only amount to 8% of the total injuries reported. One-half of the fatal pedestrian accidents happened while walking in the roadway, while over half of the non-fatal pedestrian accidents happened while crossing streets. No pedestrian accidents were reported at any intersection where traffic signals were in operation. Working in roadway and getting on or off other vehicles each contributed two to the list of fatalities.

Collisions with other motor vehicles amounted to 66% of all accidents. Only 1% of these proved fatal, whereas, 36% were non-fatal injury accidents and the remaining 62% were property damage only.

During this period only two railroad crossing accidents were reported in which one person was killed.

Three persons were injured in four collisions with bicycles; two were injured in three collisions with horse-drawn vehicles; five injured in thirteen collisions with fixed objects.

Non-collision accidents (overturning, etc.) while only 19% of the total accidents caused 36% of all fatal and non-fatal injuries, there being a ratio of 1.32 persons either killed or injured per accident, against the ratio of 1.02 during the first quarter of this year. This type of accident certainly proves the most dangerous. The causes are numerous. Seventy-four percent (74%) were caused by either skidding, blow-outs, or running off roadway. Combining speed with other contributing factors surrounding non-collision accidents and you have a combination where the chances are almost one-third more than even against you. The hours between 6 and 9 p. m. again show the most accidents, with 3 to 6 p. m. next. The other hours of the day seem to be more or less on a par with each other except the hours 6 and 9 a. m., when the accidents material fall off in number as well as severity, no one being killed between these hours. The open road claims 53% of all accidents with intersections of streets or roads next with 41%, the other 6% being scattered, but mostly unstated as to location. The open road classification involved 75% of all fatal and 56% of all non-fatal accidents.

Passenger cars predominate as usual, with 82% of the vehicles involved. Trucks cover another 11% of the total. Of drivers involved 70% lived in the city or county wherein the accidents occurred, whereas, only 11% were out-of-state. Local drivers caused 62% of all fatal and 68% of all non-fatal accidents. Almost half of the people involved in accidents, only 13% were females, did not state their ages, but of the remainder 47% were between 30 and 49 years old, 29% between 20 and 29, and 24% divided equally between those under 20 and those over 50 years of age.

Under "direction of movement" 77% were going straight ahead, 9% were making left turns, and the rest were parked, starting from curb, making right turns, etc.

Driving on the wrong side of the road, disregarding stop signs and failing to signal turns predominate among the definite items listed under "improper driving". Again, however, these do not reflect the true state of 62% of the drivers either would not make a statement or show no improper driving.

Falling asleep caused 7 accidents, while physical defects caused 8, and drunk driving 28.

Defective brakes and improper lights were again the major vehicle defects reported.

Road defects contributed toward two deaths, but only to 2.7% of the accidents.