Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-09-02
HE FAvORS AN AUTO LAW
"Peace Keeper" Thinks Machine
Men May Cause Tragedy.
RECKLESS DRIVING is DONE
Writer Has Rad Several Very Narrow
Escapes, and Suggests That Coun-
ty Court Take Up Matter.
Martinsburg. Aug. 81.


Martinsburg, Aug. 81.
Editor of The Herald.
Realizing that through the
reckless driving of the automn-
hiles in Martiusburg and Berkeley
county, some Of our citizens are going
to be killed. unless there is something
done to regulate them; and also real
izing that there is possibility of the
writes being one of the victims, /
write to make few suggestions. as
well as to give my reasons for sound
ing this alarm, while vet alive.
Twice, while driving. / have been
nearly run over, and in both cases it
was entirely the fault of the driver of
the automobile. Onoe while going on
t right hand side of the street. ap-
proaching another street. one of the
autos came dashing around the corner,
coming toward me, right in front of
my horse, causing him to jump and
plunge clear to the other side (the
wrong side) of the street and very
nearly causing wreck.
And last evening / was coming in
on the Winchester pike, when with
out sign of warning, just as / was
pulling into beaten track on the right
hand side of the road, where l be-
loneed, aud where there were two
baeten tracks with broken stones be-
tween them, Que of these machines
came up back of me. unheard by me
uuDil it was right ON me. and shot
past on my right; only by a quick
pail of the horse out of its way just
as it passed was | saved from being
run over. Now there should be
something done before tragedy
occurs; not wait until the horse is
stolen and then lock the stable. /
would suggest that the County court
take the matter in hand until the leg
islature. meets. when there should e
state laws passed regulating this mat
ter. | am told that IN Maryland the
speed is limited to'l0 miles per hour
in the country and miles IN the
towns. This may be little slow but
not much. Then there should be i'm
pressed on the minds of runners of the
autos, as we'll rs drivers of horses.
that their place lis to the right and
hnn ffnfv al nd Iaat
when they want TO overtake and pass
any one they must first sound their
horn repeatedly. approachsslowly and
always pass. at speed not to exceed
five miles per hour.
| have several times met these
machines when they would not turn to
the right to the road until within a
few yards of the horse. and then just
barely enough to pass. which has a
tendancY to make one feel very
nervous, fearing that the horse may
scare and give trouble, as well as
fearing that the driver of the machine
NAV not have 1t under control. They
should be required to turn out as far
as possible, at least 100 yards before
reaching "a team, slowing up at that
distance. to speed OF not over five
miles per hour and passing at that
speed. And in turning a corner of
street they should be required to keep
on their own side of the street and see
that there is no team or person in the
way before turning onto another
street.
With The regulations something
like herein set fourth the drivers Of
horses who should have some rights
would have some comfort and peace
of mind, and the owners OF the autos
would save themselves the likelihood
Of having to remember that by their
careiessness some life was sacrificed,
bringing grief and perhaps po'erty to
q family that is dependent on the one
that thev have thus ushered iuto an
unknown world. as well as the ex-
pense and trouble Of law suit, and
the i'll feeling that usually follow
such proceedings.
Peace-keeper.