TRANSPORT: Terrible Toll

At Bell's Mill, four miles west of Gainesville, Ga., a car sped out of the black night and thudded sickeningly into the bridge. Four were killed. In Manhattan, a coupe skidded wildly across rainswept Third Avenue and bashed into a steel El pillar. Two were killed.

That night, as every night, the toll of U.S. traffic deaths mounted in its accustomed manner: four here, two there. In the past 20 years the automobile had taken more lives (652,412) than all the battles of U.S. history.

The President had called a national Highway Safety Conference,...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!