The Washington herald., 1911-06-25

Day by day the unmber Of automobiles
in use on the streets OF Washington are
Increasing Many Of those who operate
cars are inexperienced in handling ma
chimes. and upon approaching cross
ing where trafic is more or less con-
gested are liable to overlook the fact
that some one may be following close
behind, and come to a Sudden stop or
make turn one way or the other with
out giving any warning.
For the most part operators of We
hicles, except at two or three Of the
more important points OF the city, where
the trafiic il heaviest, are left to work
out their own salvation. A traffic squad,
as SUCH has never been part OF the
police department of this city. True.
there are stationed at q few OF the
crossings Of the city an officer who Is
supposed TO regulate traffic and see that
each ana every driver of vehicle obeys
the law of the road and does not take
a short cut across the street, thereby
endangering not only himself, but the
man who is coming down the other side
Of the highway and observing the rules
Of the road as well.
Police Cannot Do Everything.
Under existing conditions, however. 1t
is impossible for an officer to apprehend
every one who violates the law. Traffic
laws, as such, have never been impressed
upon the general public Of this city. and
every man feels that he Is privileged to
do as he pleases so long as he does not
interfere with any one else, no matter
how narrow a place he msy>go through
nor how much he may Inconvenience
others. To the man who has had expert
ence In handling motor cars this condition
does not mean so much. though II Is more
or less OF an Inconvenience He has
learned that at every corner he must be
ready to apply his brake and come to a
sudden stop, IL necessary, to avoid a
collision. However. to those who have
operated q machine but short time II Is
often matter Of confusion. Almost be-
fore he realizes what has happened he
Is threatened with a collision.
There should be some common method
OF communication, such as the holding
I'D OF hand as a warning signal OF ap-
preaching danger. This would AFFORD the
operator Of the machine following an op-
portunity to apply his brakes and come
to q stop In ample time. That there are
not more accidents is due to the won
derfuI coptrol afforded over cars by their
powerful brakes. Sudden stops do not do
the tires any good nor do they aid in the
wearing quality OF the brakes.
Better Methods I'm Europe.
In European cities, where motoring is
an older form of travelling than it is with
US, and they have worked out the plan
of signaling by holding up hand at the
sign Of approaching danger or a sudden
stop. They adopted the idea from the
coachman, who when followed by an
other vehicle. not only held up his whip
when about to stop, but waved 1t in the
direction he was about to turn on ap-
preaching a corner.
The coachman, when turning to the left
or right, inclined his whip in that direc-
ton as a warning to those that were
following. The footman on the motor
car adopted the same idea when placed
on the front seat of a landaulet or
limousine. The chauffeur was too busy
handling his car to do It himself, and
delegated the task to him. AS q result
at any large gathering where motor cars
are the common mode of transportation
there is rarely an accident. Though cars
may be running in close proximity to
one another, a collision Is the rarest thing
in the world. Every chauffeur and foot
man depends on the man in front, and
so long as he is given no warning signal
he feels perfectly safe in going ahead.
New Operators Are Careless.
It is among those who drive their own
cara that the greatest danger exists.
They think only of themselves, and how
best they can avoid an accident, in case
one is imminent. The man coming on
behind is not given the least considera-
ton, though 1t would take but moment
to raise an arm or protrude one from
the side of the car In case the ton was
up, as a danger signal. In New York
and Philadelphia this mode is IN general
vogue, and though traffic is much more
congested than in this city and the speed
limit is not enforced as It is in Wash
ington, accidents are fewer. Every one
realizes that they must obey the rules
of the road, keeping to the right and
turning corners square. So long as no
warning signal is displayed by the car
In front they feel perfectly safe. In
word, It is a mutual protection So
ciety, each man considering not only his
own interests but those Of the machine
which Is behind him.