Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-06-27
LAW OF THE ROAD
WILL SAVE ACCIDENTS.

WILL SAVE ACCIDENTS.
In the United States the law re-
quires that travellers with any kind
of conveyances approaching from OPP
posite directions shall keep to the
right. The courtesy or politeness OF
the road dictates that each give the
other as much Of the travelled or
better part of the road as practical
BILE. 1t 10 the duty Of teamsters or
motor vehicle drivers to keep vigil
liant watch ahead for other vehicles
and at the very first appearance OF
danger to take proper steps to avert
IT. Every traveller expects the law
OF the road to be strictly observed
and when 1t Is not so observed the
one at fault must pay all damages
resulting from accidents, and in case
of extreme or wilful carelessness the
guilty party may be prosecuted GRIM
inally. If there was no penalty the
danger of injury to persoss or to
property should be sufficient to make
travellers observe the law OF the
road. Generally there is now law
for one to be on the constant look
out for vehicles of any kind which
may be approaching from behind.
unless when slowing down or making
sudden turns at corners. At cor
ners and crossings the rate of speed
should be such as to make a quick
stop, If occasion should require 1t.
Drivers to avoid injury must
make a vigilent use of the sense OF
sight and of hearing and at all times
use reasonable care to prevent ac-
cidents. A vehicle approaching from
behind has a right to pass traveller
going in the same direction If it can
be done with safety, but in passing
he is required to go to the left, and
the conveyance in front should keep
over to the right side of the road.
The increasing number of high speed
vehicles on lthe public highways
make it necessary that every one
should study the law of the road
and in travelling closely observe it.
It must be remembered that trav-
eler has the right to expect that
every other traveller will observe the
law, and If any one does not intend
to follow strictly the lawful course,
he should at the earliest moment
practicable indicate what he intends
to do. There Is frequently more
danger from vehicles going in the
same direction, than when going In
opposite directions. 1t 10 noticeable
that there is disposition on the
part of drivers of teams, at times,
travelling ahead of automobiles to
make no move to give any part of
the road or do anything to indicate
that they will go to either side of
the highway, and when the auto is
right up close to them often pull to
the wrong side. Then it sometimes
happens that drivers when they see
the danger get excited pull first to
one side and then to the other. The
driver of the vehicle ahead should
at the earliest possible moment drive
to the right so that the motor de-
string to pass may know what to
do to avoid trouble and possible in
jury. Politeness dictates that one
should not be contentious about his
rights on public highways, giving
the other fellow the best of the road
when it can be done without injury
to ones self. While the law does
not require it, especially should this
be done in meeting or passing wo-
men, children or heavily loaded con-
veyances. Nothing Is lost by being
a gentleman. The law with refer
ence to vehicles applies with equal
force to footmen, each must keep
to the right on the streets and high
ways. Parents and teachers should
instruct children that it is their duty
to go to the right. This avoids all
uncertainty and renders travel easier
and pleasanter especially in congest-
ed districts.