The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-28
Letters to The Editor
MoTORIsT SUGGESTS
 CHANGES IN SPEED LAWS.
One of the "Arrested" Prescnts His
 Views O. Regulation.


 One of the "Arrested" Prescnts His
 Views on Regulation.
 Editor The Advertiser:
 In connection with the recent ar- rest of a number of MoiA gomery cit- izens on the charge of driving their automobiles at an excessive rate of speed. a few words on the subject, from the standpoint of the automobile own CT may not be ainiss. The present State law provides that it shall be un- lawful to operate an automobile on greater than eight miles per hour. It is probable that this law Is constantly violated by practically all automobilists. and were 1t rigidly enforeed. there would be little pleasure in the cper- ation Of motor car and few persons would care to own one. It is a matter of common knowledge that the average horse drawn vehicle. even when the motive motive power consists of an ordinary jog that covers ground at a speed of seven or eight miles per hour. while many of Montgmery's styhsh horse drawn rigs are often seen travelling within the city limits at speeds of from twelve to fifteen miles per hour. Mod ern automobiles are eYuiprcd with the best safety devices and controls which the ingenuity of man has been able difficult of belief to the average per son. that an automobile can be more easily controlled and more quickly stopped than horse drawn vehicle travelling at equal speed. Practically all of the States have laws concerning the rate of speed at which motor cars may travel. but the provisions of the different laws are widely different: in some of the Northern States Where mo- tor cars are very much more numerous than with us. laws have been passed. or are now pending, which do not limit the speed of the motor car. but pro. vide that 1t shall always be operated in "carefur' manner, taking into con- sideratfon the Iature of the road and the nature and amount of trafiic there- on: in other States the speed Is linn lted to twenty or twenty-five miles. but with the same provision as to care- full handing. Such laws are much more sensible and just than is ours; a speed af eight miles on a crowded thoroughfare might be more reckless and dangerous than a speed of twenty five on an unobstructed road; when an arrest is made the trial court should have the power to determine from an examination O. sll the attendant cir cumstances wII-tsser the motorist was If he was not. he should be punished; If he was, he should be discharged. re- gardless of the mere rate of speed IL must be acknowledged that there Is a great deal of reckless driving on some of the most crowded streets of the city. but among those who nre familiar with the motor cars of the city. 1t is well known that a few young negro are responsible for large part of 1t. This excessive speed is source of regret to most of the auto mobile owners. and a large majority ef them would be glad to have this reckless driving ended. for they recog- nize the fact that the carelessness and willful disregard of the rights of oth- CTS. on the part of a few drivers. Is bringing the automo obile intot disfavor among those who are not so fortunate as to possess one. The recent bunch of arrests by the police was somewhat ill., advised on their part. as the point at which the arrests were made. al-. though within the city limits. was prac- tically a country highway. broad. straight and uncrowded with traffic. and it was not claimed that the motor- Ists were driving in a reckless man. her. There are about 130 registered automobiles in the city; the drivers of about a dozen of these cars seem pos sessed of speed mania. and if the police will endeavor to restrain these naniacs they will have the co-opera- tion of a hundred or more automobile owners who have some respect for law and for the rights of others.
 Arrested"