The Democratic advocate., 1907-12-27
PROPOSES AUTO RULES.
Series of Suggestions to Check
Recklessness.

what S6tUlS " Ule ~ DC d SOLuC"udI luddC-
quate view in regard to the automobile ques-
matter the careful consideration in a broad
way which it deserves.
The automobile business has become a
tremendous industry in this country. Auto
is not a craze or tad. 1t is a mod
ern development in keeping with the advance
in the arts, commerce and industry.
Automobiles are here to stay. They are
the means of public and private locomotion,
lust as the street car and the carriage. They
will continue to be used by more people
every year. The automobile is no longer
rich mans toy, but practical vehicle that
is used daily by hundreds of our best citizens
for business purposes. Because one young
man with a party Of boon companions out
for a jolliication was so unfortunate as to
kill man by his disregard of reasonable care
in driving is no reason why the entire police
force of the State and city, well as the gen
eral public, should be turned against the
automobist If one dozen reckless drivers
in Baltimore were eliminated, there would be
practically No cause for complaint on the part
of any one in regard 10 the misuse OF the auto
mobile in this city or vicinity.
WANTS A SENSIBLE SOLUTION.
In view of these facts, the question must be
considered in that spirit which will lead to
sensible and just solution, because the cor
rectness of that solution will have very direct
bearing upon the avoidance of accidents and
upon infractions of the law. | beg your ln-
diligence, therefore, while | point out what
seem to me TO be some errors in the Marshal's
conclusions, and offer some suggestions which
| believe will commend themselves to the
sober Judgment of those who are interested
in this matter.
The object to be attained is the largest de.
gree of liberty to the automobiilst, CONSISTENT
with the largest degree of safety for the public
SPEED NOT MOST IMPORTANT POINT.
The Marshal's reference to speed regulations
touches upon what is really one of the least
important elements that will contribute to the
desired result. A speed of Is, or even 70,
miles an hour in some sections OF the city
would be much safer than speed OF three or
four miles in congested sections. In those
States and cities where there are many more
automobiles in use than there are in Maryland
or the city of Baltimore, experience has proved
that arbitrary speed regulations will not prove
effective. 1t has been clearly demonstrated
that the mere fixing of even a low speed limit
is unsatisfactory, and it has been shown con-
clusIvely that the best results have been Oh
tained where speed limitations have been
practically eliminated and, ipstead, the per-
sonal responsibility of the driver OF the auto.
mobile largely increased.
SOUNDING OF HORNS.
The sounding of horns, gongs ETC., at street
crossings. TO which the Marshal refers, be
came such nuisance in many cities that 1t Is
now prohibited by law, because 1t was found
that the continual soundlngs OF horns defeated
the very purpose in view. as 1t ceased 10 be
warning because there was so much OF II. and,
besides, it became unbearabe in residential
Ill tbo citiac
hibit the sounding of horns except III cases OF
urgent necessity.
Regarding the use Of liquor by drivers, it is
unnecessary to say that this should be strictly
prohibited.
The Marshal also refers to the fact that
street ears are limited to a speed Of six miles
an hour at crossings. That law is broken
thousands of times daily in this city, and moth,
ing is said of it. Drivers of horses are break
ing the law daily, and it is allowed to pass.
But the safety of the public depends upon
many things besides those referred to, which,
il viii be noted, refer only to what the auto
lnobis, should do, or should not do. What
should reasonably be expected Of the public
to avoid accidents from any cause on the
highways-cuuses which the automobIlst does
not control, toward which he does not con
tribute aud for which he Is in no way respon-
sible?
FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECKLESSNESs.
Any consideration of this problem on the
square deal" basis must take into account
all the clements that contribute not only to
such unfortunate accidents as recently occur
red, but to all accidents that are likely to occur
from any cause
Fr>t-As to speed. As suggested, the plan
that experience has shown to work best IS TO
practically eliminate speed limitations, and
instead to place full responsibility upon the
driver of car for all accidents caused by
reckless driving, no matter what the speed
may be. Let the reckless driving OF a car be
made criminal offense.
Second-Reckless driving, without regard
to speed. should, for the second offense, be
punishable by revoking the license of the
chauffeur and also Of the license of the owner
of the car. where it is shown that he was
party thereto, for period within the discre-
ton of the court. For the third otfense, con-
vction should be followed by a permanent
revocation of the license, and by fine, i'm.
prisonment or both.
LIGHTS on ALL VEHICLES.
Third-Lights should be required on We
hces of all kinds on all public highways.
including teams and pleasure carriages, from
one hour after sunset to one hour before sun
up.
Fourth-The observance of the rules of
the road should be required of all kinds of
vehicles, and a code of such rules should be
made a part of the laws of the State. This
would eliminate one of the most fruitful causes
of accidents. As it is, conveyances of all
kinds are driven over our streets III all dlrec
tons, on either side, crossing at any point
they may see fit, which makes it practically
impossible for the most careful driver to pro
ceed with safety and without difficulty.
PEDESTRIANS MUST USE CROSSINGS.
Fifth-Pedestrians should be required to
cross streets only at crossings. As it is, they
cross the streets in all directions and at all
points, using crossings only when convenient,
and, besides, they have habit Of looking
neither to the right nor to the left, and often
not in front of them. Failure to cross a
street at the proper place should be made to
increase the responsibility of the pedestrian
in case of accident.
| believe there are now laws on the statute
books both for the city and for the country
regulating traffic. Why are these laws not
tunity for the Marshal to remove one of the
principal causes leading to accidents, not only
from automobiles but from vehicles of all
kinds.
TRAFFIC POLICEMEN NEEDED.
Sixth-Mounted officers should patrol all
congested streets by riding back and forth in
the centre of the street This applies as well
to the suburban boulevards, where reckless
driving is INDUCED in. Let us have traffic
regulations in keeping with city of the first
class.
Seventh-Let US learn from experiences of
other cities. Accidents will occur, no matter
what may be done to avoid them. When
they do occur, let the blame be put where it
rest, should without first condemnirg the auto
mobilist merely because he owns motor car.
1t should not be that because accidents occur
the general public should go into hysterical
condemnation of the automobile and him who
drives it.
Baltimore, Dec. 16. 81. NJ. ROWE.