New-York tribune., 1909-07-25
Daneer i'm Breach of Road RuIes
Warning Automeblists Sounded by Lewis r SPeare-
News of Roads in New Jersey.

Do auton1obillsts understand the rules of the
road? This question has been brought prominently
before many automobile clubs within the last Few
days In view OF the increasing number OF accidents
some resulting IN fatalities both 20 motorists and
other users OF the highways
In many these accidents have been due
either TO ignorance OF the ordinary rules OF the
road the carelessness Of automobile drivers
in ignoring simple regulations says well known
motoris,. So fragrant has this tendency to reck-
essness become IN spite OF tEe efforts being made
by the leading clubs throughout the country 70
cooperate with city and county officials In observ-
ing the legal regulations. that a word OF warning
has been sounded by President Lewis R Speare
OF the American Automobile Association and his
endeavors 10 control the present wave OF reckless
ness have been seconded by the other officers and
charmen OF the various American Automobile As
soc.ation boards.
Many OF tho recent depiorahe accidents might
have been avoided by the Observance Of the sim
PIE road rules and driving" said President
spear~. There Is also too much reckessness IN
crossing railroad and surface lines. as we'll as
passing electric cars IN city streets when passen-
gers alEhtng Again many motorists In de-
soending hills II not very long or steep ones
persist in keeping practically the full power OF
their motor
II more motorists would throttle down the en-
Flue. or totally dsengage st while descending
hIn. the number q accidents from this source
would be materially decreased. When the motor
!st suddenly finds himself IN a tight place while
descending a hill under fun power. or even par
TALLY SO. and he loses control of his car, II is the
most natural thing IN the world To attribute the
difficulty 20 the failure Of the steering gear TO
work properly whereas there would probably have
been no trouble at all were the machine allowed
to coast down gradually under its own momentum
some OF the ordinary rules Cf the road which
every uotorst ought 10 know by heart and inVarl-
ably observe are: First-KeeP 70 the right when
cvsrtaken by a passing automobile other vehicle
going I'm the same direction. Second-Keep TO the
left when about 10 pass another vehicle going In
the same directiHn I'm other words. the autono-
hnfst should pass another vehicle going in the
same direction on the lefthand side. Third-Pass 70
the right when meeting vehicle moving In the
opposite direction.
Among the clubs that have recently been aroused
to renewed activity toward preventing this vide
spread tendency 10 reckessness are the automo-
bile clubs Of Cleveland. Rochester and Syracuse.
vigilance committee has just been appointed by the
Rochester club. whose object Is to deal severely
with members and ohauffeurs who persstently eX-
hibit recklessness and careessness IN driving and
q vigorous campaign Is also 70 be "aRed against
autoists carrying fictitious numbers
President W r Bonnell, OF the Cleveland Auto
mobile club has issued general letter 70 all OF
the members calling their attention 20 the fact that
the city ordinances are being violated every day.
Go eaprant has this become that the chief Of
police in Cleveland has ordered that bulletins sha
he Issued every forty-eght hours giving the num-
bers Of cars which have been reoA'essv operated
president Ronneu requests the members TO CO
onerate with the ofacials toward suppressing this
evil
.,Co -onaration in this" he SAYS. will be helpful
20 the automobile manufacturers the individual
gunner ~ car and 70 citizens IN general
Some helpful information has been supplied 70
,roenaotive American Automobile Association tour
its IN New, Jersey by the good roads observers or
,ba Nayv Jersey Automobile and Motor club Ex-
,v,,a ranairs being made the road between
PORT Golden one mile east OF Washington N j.
o,d ,+s junction with the Hackensack and German
y-aue- roads about one mile beyond Hackettstown
,a,a caused the closing or that road for auto
,obiies until about October Il. Tourists visiting
The nonuIar Pompton Lake section VIII he glad
% l-pov that sections of the road near the
pon7ntop station have been coated with oil, but
no,a should be exercised in crossing the bridge
aor Mountain station. The bridge is being re-
huilt and temporary Is in use. red hags
beinq pIaced on both sides Of the temporary
structure.
Tho Automobile Club Of America has just for
,rarded to its nlembers and subscribers 70 the ou-
raau Of tours the 1909 edition of the Automobile
cI,h ~ America Tour Book which contains this
wear over four hundred routes covering all the
main touring lines throughout the United States
and a vast amount of practical touring nforna-
,ion q digest OF all state automobile laws. ana
list of officially appointed and recommended hotels
Automobiles.