The Detroit times., 1911-05-04


Immediate passage of the Little
ED ordinance, requiring automobile
rivers to stop their cars when ap-
roaching a street car that has stop
ed to let off or take on passengers.
urged by several members of the
bmmon council, regardless OF any
ttion that may be taken by the or
nance committee, Friday, looking
pward the adoption OF general
Ito ordinance.
ut may take several months to
-aft a general ordinance that will
satisfactory TO all the interests
bncerned," said Aid. Maurice Keat'
kg, OF the Fourth ward. In tho
eantime the automobiles will con
niue killing people on our streets un-
ss something is done TO regulate
lie traffic. ] don't think Wa could
b better than adopt the Littlefeld
-dinance as it stands to insure tenn
brary protection to our citizens. II
on't cost anything except the sx.
ense of printing 1t, and when the
eneral ordinance Is passed, the Lit
efield ordinance can be repealed
oug with the others covered by the
anket measure"
The only way We'll ever stop the
laughter of people on the streets is
n adopting such an ordinance as
hve submitted said Aid Sherman
|i,tiefield, Wednesday II can see no
easen why the automobile people
hould control our streets. People
no ride in street cars are far in the
majority, and ! think4they have some
lights in the streets, just as we'll as
he automobillsts No less than 200
eople have called me up or spoken
b me about my measure and have
xpressed the opinion that II is the
est ordinance yet proposed in the
Interest of the public safety as far as
he automobiles are concerned.
One thing know is that, II the
ouncil doesn't incorporate the pro.
isions of my ordinance in the pro
osed general ordinance that measure
J going TO have pretty hard shedding.
kearly every alderman In the council
hat | have spoken to Is in favor OF
compelling the automobile drivers to
top their machines when approach
ng a halted street car
An ordinance similar to the Little.
Ield measure is now in force in Pitts
burg. and has practically put an end
automobile accidents in that city.
| response to an inquiry The Times
Las received the following dispatch
rom Pittsburg:
A strict enforcement OF an or
dinance adopted by the Pitts
burg council about a year ago.
regulating the operation of auto.
mobiles, has done more to mini
mize street accidents resulting
from the passage through the
streets of motor cars than any
other measure on it's books.
This statement Of fact relates
particularly to the rule which
prohibits autos from passing q
street car on the curb, or receiv-
ina and discharaing side, when IL
10 at a standstiIl or when II is
slowing down at street inter
| section to make a stop.
The enforcing of the ordinance
was SO drastic at the very outset
that drivers of cars learned les
son they are not apt to soon for
get. The ordinance was brought
about by numerous accidents,
where passengers alighting from
street cars were run down and
seriously injured, and where in
seyeral cases deaths were caused,
by reckless auto drivers steering
their machines between the
standing street car and the curb
with apparently no thought for
the safety Cf those who might
alight or try TO board the car.
once the restraining measure
was a law, the police started an
enforcement without regard for
whom the offender might be, and
their work was ably seconded by
The magistrates before whom Of.
tenders were hailed, the punish
ment accorded being heavy in
monetary way, with threat that
a repetition would mean inn
prisonment as we'll.
II has been months since an ac-
cident such as was formerly com
mon because of recklessness OF
chauffeurs In passing cars has
been reported. In all parts of the
city and at all hours, auto drivers
can be seen slowing down, and II
need be, coming to full stop. be-
fore passing car standing still
or Just making stop, unless