The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-31
AMONG The AUTONOBILISTS.
A. C. A. COMMITTEE on PUBLIC
SAFETY REPORTS.
strenuous Efforts TO ne Made 60 Discourage
and Punish Reckless Driving -Centroi
Of Chauffeur Also Receives Attention
Speed Limits Absurdly Low-Gossip.

ton, were appointed a committee on public
safety. by the board or governors OF the
Automobile Club Of America at their meeting
held ON December rs. The reforms they
would inaugurats are fully explained In
the following report by Winthrop L. Scarritt,
chairman Of the committee, to the board Of
governors;
Your president has appointed q COM
mittee to consider ways and means whereby
the club may better use Its power and
influence toward correcting certain evils
which have grown apaoe In connect1s4 with
the evolution Of the new sport>aDd ina1stry
OF sutomobllism. After consultation Will q
number OF the members OF the club Nth
Police Commissions Bingham. various HAais-
trRtes and others whose opinion should carry
great weight. your committee, begs to submit
the following report:
BY way of introduction IL may not be out
OF place to bear in mind that the problems Of
our modern civilization are constantlyigrowing
more and more compiler. There is no great
invention that does not bring with 1t as a
corollary to its advantages certain hard
ships TO other members of the human race.
In the early days OF r~ailroading q member
Of tho British Parliament spoke against
granting a franchise for q railroad on the
ground that the terrific speed Of ten or
twelve miles an hour would be dangerous TO
life and limb: that horses. sheep and other
uOiltrNlC hulhldis WOulu NC W lIikhbChCu
that they would become incapacitated. and
that the rumble and vibration caused by
the passag e OF a railroad train in the spring
time would SO injure the blossoms on the
apple trees that the crop would be ruined.
We smile AT these now. but at
that time they were put forth In all serious
ness and most carefully considered
The automobile Ia q new factor In trAnspor-
tation. Its use on our public hie hways
even under the most favorable conditions
not i~nfrequently Is an inconvenience and
works hardships to other users of the high
way. Tn automobile is go ing through
exactly the same history as did the bicycle
and the trolley. but the public have become
accustomed to these methods Of t~ransporta-
ton and have accepted the situation. The
automobile is now on trial at the bar Of public
opinion and by its decision must either stand
or fall. because in the last analysis public
opinion is the supreme court from whose
opinion there is no appeal. TIT courts have
decided that properly used the motor car
has exactly the SAM rights on our public
streets and highways as those who use old
methods of transportation. II the public
we're always reasonable in their demands.
and IL automobiIsts were always considerate
Of the rights OF others. the problem would
be simple indeed. Unfortunately this is
not the case. The public press is burdened
almost daily with reports OF accidents caused
by the users OF. automobiles. Nhe tension
betw cen the public and the automObilisU ia
becoming tighter every day, and il the sober
sense of the automobiles does not cause him
TO restrain the tendency TO reckless speed
madness on the highway the public will see
to il that he il restrained by measures which
will be so drastic that they are unpleasant TO
contemplate,
The Automobile Club Of America has al
ways stood for good roads, good laws and
good behavior. 1t has thus placed itself on
record again and again. IL has publicly pro-
claimed its direction to racing. on the RrOun0
that under conditions which exist In TINS
country IL is not safe. The club has gone to
the extent of disCiplining its members when
found guilty OF reckless driving, and has
offered rewards for the apprehension and
criminal and reckless way, whereby serious
accidents haye Resulted, Al these thing are
GUS situation. As the number Of automobiles
in use is increasing daily. SO alas, especially
are Increasing. What can this club do to
remedy this grave situationp Your COM
mittee begs to offer the following sugses-
-First-Let us have the co urage TO look
the facts in the face, accept the situation as
"Seoond-Let there be appointed a COM
mittee which shall be known as the COM
mittee on public safety: h president OF
OF all committees of the club. The other
members OF the committee should consist of
the former presidents OF the club. who. by
reason Of their experience. are perhaps better
adapted to deal with this question than others
who have not given to the problem special
"~Third-This committee should be charged
with the duty. OF studying this problem as
seTI LOUIS casei1Iiy and earnestly as the otner
signed to them.
~Fourth-The committee should act in
cooperation with the law COMMITTEES in recon-
mending to the Legislature such changes
and amendments to the existing law as would
seem necessary for the better protection OF all
lapra of the highway alike
Fifth-The club should make known first
TO Its own members that 1t will not sanction
driving, and it should invite from the public
and carefully consider any fair criticism,
oacSed by substantial proof;
the end that setting, our own house in order
we may conserve the best interests Of the
public and shall by our own behavior and by
the discipline we mete out TO offenders of our
own organization show that we have the best
good OF this great sport and industry at
"Seventh-Ths problem Of the control
OF the chauffeur Is a difficult one, but We believe
and the law il fisgrantly violated he should
be held equally responsible with the chauffeur
for such violation.
tanned through which a deserving chauffeur
might seek employment and through which
owners Of cars could secure competent opera
boTs. Whenever It becomes necessary for
an owner to discharge a chauffeur on account
OF tntemperanCe. ineniciency or dishonesty
u ASpuIb hclto hOthN NC hich ~ II CluD
secretary.
"Ninth--It is recommended that an exami-
nation be appointed TO examine
as to competency any chauffeur in the
employ of a club member who shall furnish
the committee with satisfactory evidence OF
character. II the committee were satisfied
that the applicant possessed all the qualities
necessary for a first class chauffeur they
would be empowered In their discretion TO
issue a certificate Of capacity to this effect.
The chauffeur would receive this certificate
and a badge or button which he would be glad
TO wear, indicating hat he had successfully
passed the examination and was the holder
OF an A. G.. A. certificate. We believe that the
adoption Of such a plan as this would surely
tend to raise the standard among chauffeurs
and prove to deserving ones a valuable asset.
"Tenth--Many of the leading garages keen
an accurate record OF the cars which are
taken out. We believe that all CARA ges should
he requested 30 to do and that a duplicate OF
this record should be mailed to each owner
at least once a week. This would tend to
break up the perniClous practice of chauffeurs
taking out cars by day or night without the
owners knowledge or permission.
"Eleventh-Your committee believes that
the revocable license furnishes the most
efficient method Of curbiug the speed madness
OF the reckless owner and the careless, in
considerate. dare devil chauffeur. It is be-
lieved that II there should be any change
made In the existing law the penalty OF revo-
cation should be Incorporated therein.
"Fwelfth-The club IL on record as being
ent rely opposed to the payment OF commits
SONS to chauffeurs. II should discourage
this practice, mot only so far as its own garage
- HnA e. 81 AkA