The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-19
REFORM NEEDED
AUTOMOBILE FATALITIES ARE
ON THE INCREASE.

AUTOMOBILE FATALITIES ARE
ON THE INCREASE.
Colonel August Kohn, of Columbia
Suggest a Safe and Sane Campaign
in This State.
Col. August Kohn writes as fol-
lows to The News and Courier from
Columbia:
A day does not pass that does not
give occasion for funeral notice as
result of an automobile accident
The New York papers record several
accidents day.
with the increasing use Of auto.
mobiles in this state it may be a
good idea to have an early start IN a
safe and sane" campaign. III New
York city the pedestrian is given q
chance for his life-that's about all,
There is no need for legislation, as
there is now ample law on the books
An that Is wanted is an enforcement
Of the existing laws. Every city and
town has law against speeding and,
while it may not be known, there Is
a State law against fast driving.
in effect the main features Of the
present law read:
Section 591. No person shall op-
crate a motor vehicle on public
highway at a rate of speed greater
than is reasonable and proper at the
time and place, having regard to the
traffic and use of the highway, and
its condition, or so as to endanger
life, limb or property of any person
or in any event at a greater rate
than fifteen miles an hour, subject,
however to the provisions OF Sec
tons 592 to 5SS inclusive.
Section 592. upon approaching
crossing of interest, pfblic high.
ways, or a bridge, or a sharp curve
or a steep descent, and also travers-
ing such crossing, bridge, curve or
descent, person operating a motor
vehicle shall have it under control
and operate it at the rate of speed
no greater than six miles an hour
and in no event greater than Is rea-
sonable and proper, having regard
to the traffic then on such highway
and the saftey of the public"
Other sections relate to cars stop
ping upon signal. The automobile
clubs and organizations cannot take
up and encourage anything that will
do the automobilist as much good as
to discourage speeding and fast driV'
ing. Reckless driving is not general
among automobiHsttbut the many
will suffer the few if, the safe and
sane" idea is not impressed.
. At recent term of the Court In
Spartanburg the grand Jury in it,
presentment to Judge Watts said:
1--WE desire to call the attention oi
the owners and drivers Of automo
biles and other motor driven machine
to the law regulating their operation
on the public roads. In no case are
they allowed to run more than If
teen miles an hour. and on curves
bridges, etc, the rate Of speed is linn
tied to six miles an hour. We be-
lieve many violations of the law are
from thoughtlessness, but the dan
ger of accidents Is very great, and W.
call upon all officers OF the law to en-
force same in the interest of the pub
lie safety
1T has also been called to oul
attention that a great many automo
biles and motorcycles are being op
Grated in this county without havin!
such motor registered in accordance
with the law, and by not having sucl
Aumber placed on the rear Of sale
machine in a CONSPICUOUS place, will
the name of the county in which sait
motor vehicle is registered"
These are the beginnings OF dam
age suits and extreme legislation!
Some months ago there was in Co
lumbia a break-neck automobile race
A fine young man from Greenwood
was injured in the preliminary spin
He is now dead as result OF the &C
cident by which his back was injur
ed
1t may be locking the door aftel
the horse is out, but some one Will
no doubt, propose a statute, at the
next session of the Genearal Assem-
bly outlawing speed and endurance
contests with automobiles. Benz Bris
coe and other leading AUTOMOBILES
argue that nothing is now to be
gained by such contests and that the!
should be discouraged.
Automobiles generally should sup
press the speed maniac and it is bes
for it to be done by those interested
in the new motor machines.
NEGRO'S SLAYERS UNKNOWN