The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-11
SOME AUTOMOBILE GOSSIP
OF INTEREST TO OWNERS,
DRIVERS AND OTHERS
by CLYDE W. ENNIS

Continuing the line=of talk used here
last week In reference TO the evils OF
speeding in Birmingham, which was In
all good nature and impersona to the
last degree, quite large number of
owners have during the past
week offered the suggestion that at
tention be called to the Indifference OF
pedestrians down town. No complaint
was offered as to outlying districts.
The chief point of complaint offered
by owners. drivers and others is the
way birmingham people act on the
streets. They all point out that fire.
uuently groups stand out in the middle
of the street talking, entirely unmind-
full of what vehicle may be approach
ing. thereby contributing to the dan
gers down town Moreover II is said
that. pedestrians here cross the middle
of the streets from one corner to the
other while they should follow the
sidewalk squarely, thus avoiding a
great deal of danger.
In a measure the cross Indictment of
pedestrians. made almost wholly by au-
tomobile users is correct. In most of
the southern cities traffic regulations
are lax. and there is in Birmingham
little direct effort made on the part of
Commissioner Lane to regulate the dan
gerous traffic conditions down town. 1t
will be recalled that traffic policemen
were at ane time placed on prominent
| corners and later removed after the
| commissioners assumed charge. There
are now some policemen who stand In
the center of the street crossing. but
| so far as observations have extended
no effort Is made to direct traffic of
pedestrians.
missioner Lane it has been pointed out
to him how thoroughly such matters
are handled in larger cities, and even
smaller ones, but he is unwilling to
| believe that conditions at this time
warrant the continuous duty of an Of
ficer on the dangerous and prominent
corners, 1t is probable, however. that
Judge Lane, after he gets over the rush
| of things. may take up the traffic prob
| lens here. In that connection the fout
passengers may contribute a great deal
| to further safety IL they will only OBJ
| serve the most ordinary rules of traf-
| fic. In sense it is dangerous to cross
| any street without looking back and
| forth, and it never should be the case
that one walks IN front OF a street car
| to cross over the additional track with
| out looking first and carefully. There
| are many small ways in which one may
adequately cloak oneself with protec-
| ton down town by observing small
| points and acting carefully.
In connection with the initial remarks
upon recklessness in Birmingham last
Sunday. there has been much discussion
Many automobile owners have voduntari-
| ~ said that they personally discussed
matters with their drivers and during
the week just past no accidenehas taken
| place TO mar the happiness of any one in
| Birmingham. The owners say that care
| is to be the watchword and speeding
! drivers will be in the bread line unless
| they walk the chalk line so far as speed
| ing gees.
| Dealers have taken up the matter, 80
the announcement is made, and e. r.
Mnhinnette, the taxicab man, called ur
| his % drivers last week and handed them
| out a line of talk. His drivers were told
| that this matter of speeding about Dir
minEham was going to be stopped, and
| that he wanted TO be the first man EN-
| ploying so many drivers to hand out In
structions. He proceeded then to say
| that those drivers who are ipvolved vii
| find themselves up against a hard propo-
sltion TO explain and a lot more of YER
| bal information for the general good
ether owners employing several drivers
are getting interested I'm the campaign
to decrease accidents here and render the
walking game a little less hazardous.