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 noon, when business men and workers are returning hurriedly to their homes. At this period of the day, congestion on the streets and highways is at its height.

[[File:Popular Mechanics - 1928 01 - 091 - 28,000 Accidents in New York State.png|center|500px|Courtesy American Roadbuilders' Ass'n.

Chart Showing the Time of 28,000 Accidents in New York State, with Their Peak during the Homeward-Rush Hour between Five and Six in the Evening, When They Reached a Total of Nearly 2,500 an Hour; Below Is a Pedestrian Problem—How to Cross a Busy Street Corner Like This without Risk to Life or Limb]]

That the accidents involving pedestrians are increasing at a rate much greater than the rate of increase of other types of accidents. In Massachusetts, collisions between automobiles have actually decreased, while the calamities involving pedestrians have nearly doubled since 1921. This seems to indicate that the American motorist is becoming adept in the art of dodging other vehicles but is unable to cope with the problem of foot traffic.

Less than five per cent of all accidents are the result of faulty mechanism of vehicles or improperly designed roads and streets. The human machine is responsible for the remaining ninety-five per cent of the accident total. Carelessness and incompetency have been found to be the chief traits of the human machine resulting in disaster.

The annual death of 7,000 children of school age has caused an intensive research into the causes of these youthful mortalities. It has been found that more than twice as many children between the ages of six and twelve are killed than in any other similar group of years between one month and 70 years.

While the total number of accidents resulting from recklessness by intoxicated