Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-09
GOOD WORK
Shown by Safe Roads
Automobile Association.
Working Hard TO Protect In
teTests Of Automobiles
And at the Same Time to Safeguard
the interests Of Others.

Eoston. Jan. S.-The Safe Roads Au-
tomobile Association, which was or
Yanizcd early last summer, held its
annual meeting at the Exchange Clup
at noon today and in the report OF the
executive committee there We're Hs-
ures showing that since June there
have been about 500 automobile acct
dents in Massachusetts. in when 80
reople were killed and AGA people serl-
ouSly injured The safe roads problem
was deemed by the association of such
acute importance this season that IT'S
executive committee has held weekly
meetings, and the board of directors
monthly meetings to consider measures
for the improvement Of prevailing
conditions and the results OF TINS cure
ful study Of the subject, are present.
ed i'm considerable detail in tOday's re-
port.
The association is OF a cooperative
sort. aiming to aid the state in the
prosecution OF reckless automcblilsts,
and, on the other hand, to Obtain ana
preserve for motor enthusiasts reason
able rights on public highways. A spe-
cial official has been employed to IN
yestisate cases, a counsel for defence
and prosecution, and a clerk who has
kent a record of all accidents. Through
the associations efforts 33 cases have
been prosecuted. During the year more
than a thousand persons have been
convicted in the lower courts OF Varl-
GUS riolatiOns of the automobile laws.
In all Sc licenses have been suspended
or re voked by the Massachusetts High
way Commission. a large majority or
the convictions We're for speeding,
while next in number We're the fall
u-cs of operators to have licenses and
registration certificates on their per-
sons and lights on their cars. over JILL
coo has been paid in fines.
OF the accidents reported it is rath-
er strangely recorded that more than
two thirds Of them occurred in broad
daylight. There were about as many
accidents on country roads as IN
thickiy settled districts. OF the 29o
collisions. s.; were between automo-
biles. 50 with other vehicles. 50 with
street cars and 60 with trains, trees,
posts. walls, etc. OF the AGA people Sc
riously injured, 1SS were occupants of
cars while 216 were not. About the
same proportion held in the number OF
fatalities.
While the association declares that
many, probably q majority, of the &C
cidents occurred without serious fault
on tie part of the autOmobiiIst, 1t re-
manned the duty of the motorists, as
comparatively new corners, to antlcl-
pate carelessness on the part of other
and older users of the highways and to
met them more than half way in the
| effort to safeguard public travel.
The thorough study which the asso-
| citation has given to the subjects,
prompts the suggestion of many
| changes which it intends to advocate in
| the state statutes and such recon-
mandations are briefly outlined at the
conclusion of the report. 1t was de-
| clared that a law should be passed
requiring the State Highway Commits
SION on its own initiative. to investi-
| gate and prosecute all cases. and when
such investigation disclosed reckless
driving, that the license of the operator
| should be revoked. The association
| continued 10 oppose the reissue Of IL
! censes to convicted operators. The
! highway commission should further be
| aliONcu 10 SuilliilOli NItIcSoCS tiiu "
pay witness fees.
| Among other changes under conSid-
Grafton but upon which the committee
| did not definitely commit itself, are
| that all vehicles should be required tC
carry lights after dark; and that q
person convicted in the lower courts OF
reckless operation. if he appealed his
| case, should have his license suspended
until the appeal We're disposed of. The
association also has under considera-
ton suggestions such as were made ir
Gov. Guilds recent inaugural address
to the effect that autOmobilists from
other states should be required TO com.
ply with Massachusetts laws if oper-
ated here FOR more than a week or a
fortnight. Another point raised by
Gov. Guild-that of grading the IL
cense tax according to the size and
expense of the car and it's proportion.
ri damage to highways--was favorably
CONTINUED on Page Five.)