Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-18
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1s, 1911,
AUTO FATALITIES INCREASE.
Col. Kohn Suggests "Safe and Sane"
Campaign In This State.

Campaign In This State.
A day does not go pass, August
Kohn writes to the News and Courier,
that does not give occasion for fu-
neral notice as a result of an automo-
bile accident. The New York papers
record several accidents a day.
With the increasing use Of automo-
biles in this state 1t may be good
idea to have an early start in safe
and sane" campaign. In New York
city the pedestrian is given chance
for his life-thats about all.
There is no need for legislation, as
there is now ample law on the books.
All that is wanted is an enforcement
of the existing laws. Every city and
town has a law against speeding and,
while it may not be known, there Is
state law against fast driving.
In effect the main features OF the
present law read:
Section 591. No person shall oper-
ate a motor vehicle on a public high-
way 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 It's conoltlon,
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 provis-
ions of Sections 592 to 59S, inclusive.
Section 592. Upon approaching
crossing or intersecting public high
ways, or a bridge, or sharp curve
or a steep decent, and also traVerslng
such crossing, bridge. curve or de-
scent, a person operating a motor We
hicle shall have it under control, and
oDerate 1t at the rate OF speed no
greater than six miles an hour, and IN
fhon ia reasonable
and proper, having regard to the traffic
then on such highway and the safety
Of the public"
Other sections relate to cars stopping
upon signal. The automobile clubs
and organizations can not take up and
encourage anything that will do the
automobilists as much good as to dis
courage speeding and fast driving.
Reckless driving is not general among
automobilists. but the many will sufter
for the few If the safe and sane" idea
is not impressed.
At the recent term OF the court IN
Spartanburo the grand jury in Its pre-
sentiment to Judge Watts said:
I'VE desire to call the attention OF
the owners and drivers OF automo-
biles and other motor driven ma
chimes to the law regulating their op-
Grafton on the public roads. In no
case are they allowed to run more
than fifteen miles an hour, and on
curves. bridges. ETC., the rate or speed
Is limited to six miles an hour. we
believe many violations OF the law
are from thoughtlessness, but the
danger of accidents is very great. and
we call upon all officers Of the law to
enforce same in the interest OF the
public safety.
''It has also been called to our at
tention that great many automo-
biles and motorcycles are being oper-
ated in this county without having
such motor registered in accordance
with the law, and by not having SUCH
number placed on the rear OF sald
machine in a conspicuous place, with
the name of the county in which said
motor vehicle is registered"
These are the beginnings Of damage
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 or the ac-
cident by which his back was injured.
1t may be locking the door atter
the horse is out but some one Will,
no doubt. propose a statute. at the
next session of the general assembly
outlawing speed and endurance con-
tests with automobiles. Benz. Bris-
coe and other leading automobilists
argue that nothing is now to be gam
ed by such contests and that tney
should be discouraged.
Automobiles generally should sup
press the speed maniac and II is pest
for II to be done by those interested
in the new motor machines.