Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-08-18
WILL KEEP TABS
ON SPEED AUTOS.
Superintendents of Electric Roads
Asked to Have Motormen and Con-
ductors Help.


Elmer H. Lounsbury. chief clerk in
the office of the state secretary. has
made a new departure which he hopes
will aid in eliminating reckless auto
mobile drivers from the face of Con-
necticut. For some weeks he has been
contemplating the possibilities of in
yiting the superintendents OF the street
railways in the state to give notifica-
ions of cases of reckless driving, as
the motormen and the conductors On
the street cars have opportunity to 90
serve if the chauffeurs obey the law re-
qairing a motor vehicle to reduce its
speed to three miles an hour when
passing a car that has stopped to let
off passengers. This method is in
troduced by Connecticut. and Mr.
Lounsbury thinks it will be success
full If it proves to be such. other
states will be interested to know of
it. The state declared war on the
reckless driver some time ago. With
the aid of the newspapers and a clip
ping bureau it has discovered many
infractions by habitual violators.
These men have been dealt with ac
cordingly. The cases that were heard
had usually an accident connected
with them, for the papers are prone
to deal with effects close in this field.
until effects becomes less important
than the causes interest now is cen
causes of these mishaps. In very
many instances trouble ensued from
pure carelessness.
little carelessness may be toler-
ated for time. but when carelessness
verges upon manslaughter. when hui
man life is endangered. the law
steps in and says, Here your IL
cense" The motorInan on a car pass
ing another care at standstill rings his
bell or he gets q call from higher
up" The chauffeur in many cases
ornits to do this. The. motorma1
slackens his speed on approaching an
other car at rest. The chaufeur
rarely 1t is to put the law before the
eyes of the speeding public. believing
that they will profit thereby as well
as the pedestrians that the state has
taken this action. There have been
so many violations of this particular
law that the time has come when the
chauffeur gets his call from higher
up"
The parties receiving letters from
the state in this connection were the
superintendents of the following street
railway systems: Norwich 81 West
erly company New London & East
Lyme company. Hartford & Springfield
company, Connecticut Railway IL
Lighting company. West Shore com
pany, South Manchester Light Power
& Tramway company. Providence es
Danielson company Groton & Ston-
ington company, Pennington COMMA
ny, Danbury & Bethel company ami
the Connecticut company.
The copy of letters dispatched Tues
day follows:
Dear Sir-Frequent complaints of
general nature have been received at
this office of the violation on the part
of motor vehicle operators with espe-
ciaI regard to the reduction of speed
upon passing any street car that is
stationary or about to stop, on tha
same side of the car on which passer
gers are ordinarily received or dis
charged The law provides that an ex
cess of three miles per hour shall be
prima facie evidence that the driver
is operating the machine in reckless
manner and in violation of the laNyl
No one is perhaps a more frequent
observer of this than the conductor
or motorman upon the street car and
it is also important for the interest
of the persons whom the street rail-
way serve as IT is for the state in
determining persons capable of and en-
titled to receive a license to operate
such machines.
With the cooperation of your SER
vice upon the street cars. this office
could receive information of the habit
ual reckless driver and upon investi-
eating evidence thus given. withdraw
the licenses which such persons are
unfit to hold.
May we then ask for cooperation
in the matter.