The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-18
AUTO|STS FEAR new Law
SPEED PROVISIONS
Enthusiasts Think That
Phrase Reasonable eau
ton" May Cause Much
Trouble.

Automobiles in this section are dis
posed to look rather askance at the
repeal Of the old law and the pro-
visions of the new, especially as re-
CARDS the question of speed.
While it serves to free careful auto
lists from enc class of nulsances, they
are wondering if 1t will not bring in its
stead train Of evils that will bring
even greater discomfort or injustice to
them. They look with a great deal Of
questioning on the part of the new act
which says that automobiles shall use
all reasonable caution
The contention of auto drivers is that
this leaves to bystanders and officers
Of the law the entire judgment as to
what shall be termed reasonable eau
ton. In other words, automobiles
are now more than ever at the mercy
of prejudieed public.
AS one motor car owner put 1t yes
terday: IAN automobilist may be using
every caution and at the same time
strike someone who is carelessly using
the crosswalks or sides of the street or
highway. Instantly the charge is made
that the chauffeur Of the machine was
careless, and that he did not use due
precaution.
"For several seasons strips of high
way in Connecticut, notably at Madi-
son, Berlin and Pennington, Stratford,
Thompsonville and North Haven, have
been terror to automobile drivers,
because of alleged indiscreet and I'M
just arrests. Automobiles have even
charged that officials Of these localities
have stretched the facts in order to
impose fines that would create funds
sufficient to pay for their road repairs
and improvements. In most cases
where arrests have been made the i'm
position of a fine has rested on the
question of the veracity Of the auto
lists or the arresting officials, and pre-
JUDGE has usually swayed the opinion
in favor Of the latter
strangers, people from other and
distant states, are the ones who have
been chiefly affected by the operation
of the old automobile law. In many
cases when strangers have been ar
rested they have paid the fines under
protests, but have paid them just the
same because they have not had the
time to stay in the particular locality
to fight the matter out in court.
"Then, too, being strangers and auto
mobilists, the witnesses against them
have been pre1udiced, they claim, evil
IDENTIFY believing that 1t is always a
good thing to hit 'em just as hard as
you can because they are automobiles
and consequently outlaws.
Judging the future from the past,
thoughtful automobile owners and
drivers are wondering if they will not
now fare worse than before, because
there is no especial gauge set by
which to measure what is reasonable
care. Many things besides careless
ness may tend to produce accident A
chauffeur may be using all reasonable
care and yet meet with an accident. Pc
destrians are notoriously careless evil
IDENTIFY feeling secure in the belief that
whatever happens the responsibility
shall rest with the man in the car.
Considering all points of the mat
ter, Automobiles are inclined to believe
that they are in a more delicate posi-
ton than ever before, and are anxious
1y awaiting developments"