Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-12-03
HOW RECKLESS DRIVING OF
AUTOS COULD BE REDUCED.

policeman while they are driving at
rapid rate they pull the string and draw
the plate under as they pass him. This
is easily accomplished as the plate
swings by two rings. | saw that done
up here only the other afternoon by a
chauffeur who shot by me going at least
forty miles an hour. He didn't know
me, but he saw policeman in uniform
on the opposite corner.
''The carrying of large numbers
painted on the machine would preclude
all possibility of this. And it would
prevent another favorite trick known
as greasing' Before some of these
Joy riders and speeders start out they
smear oil over the number plate. In
short time the numerals are caked
with dust, and it is impossible to read
them yard away There could be no
'greasing' with the large number.
And would suggest that all automo-
bile numbers be permanent, except in
cases where the machine was sold to
some one in an other state or city. If
the machine were disposed of in New
York all that would be necessary would
be to insert the new owners name in
the records. In that way there could
be no fake numbers.
AT present it is almost impossible
for man to read seven figure num-
Der even if not travelling fast Often
witnesses of accidents see the numbers,
but when it comes to making an af-
fidavt that may send man to Jail they
are unwilling, fearing they might have
been mistaken. A man would feel far
more certain of himself if he saw
number foot high. These big num-
bers should, of course be painted in
color in strong relief to that borne by
the car.
MENACE OF THE GREEN CHAUFFEUR
Another and very serious factor in
the present situation is the green chauf-
feur. Many of the drivers are Woe
fully equipped for such important work.
1t is now comparatively easy to OBJ
tain license. There should be a far
more rigid examination. And some of
these so-called schools for chauffeurs
should be investigated. More regard
should be paid to the character of the
man, which seems to be almost the last
thing taken into account. Many of
these drivers are drunk ards, or at least
heavy drinkers and cigarette fiends.
In the majority of the arrests we make
the drivers are drunk or half drunk.
Most of our speeders regard this
section of the city as open country, a
grand speedway. Many of them start
from as far south as Forty-second street
and stop for dozen or more drinks be
fore they reach the free range. Then
they open up and drive through here
like mad. 1t is hard to catch them.
and at night it is practically impossible.
Their numbers have been treated to
the greasing process, and they carry
no tail lights.
I'm the majority of accidents the
chautfeurs are alone on the cars or on
JOY rides when the machines are sup
posed by the owners to be in the garage
This helps to emphasize the point !
made that the character of auto drivers
should receive more consideration, and
that before license is issued to man
make him give references. Not long
ago | was looking for thief, an ex-
convict; found him quite by chance,
running an automobile. The criminal
chauffeur is not uncommon.
THE order recently issued by com
missioner Baker that arrests are to be
made in all cases whether the injured
make complaint or not will act as a de-
terrent to speeders. The blame is not
always with the chauffeurs. Owners
also are culpable, and restrictions should
be placed upon them too. There should
be as rigid an examination for owners
as for drivers.